Ipswich was home to Confectionery Manufacturers from as early as 1877. Some businesses stood the test of time and were industries in Ipswich for a number of years, others weren’t so timely.

Mr J Bouchards Confectionery Factory was established at the Terrace, North Ipswich in 1877. Mr Bouchards advertised himself as a maker of all kinds of English and French Confectionary from hoky pokies to Tom Thumbs. Mr Bouchard was known to use only the best and purest white sugar which he obtained from the Colonial Sugar Company in Brisbane.

The Treagle family and staff
(Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich – Ipswich in the 20th Century by Robyn Buchanan)

 

Treagles & Sons Manufacturing Confectioner was a family owned business run by the Treagle family. Established around 1900 in Bell Street, Ipswich, the factory employed about 20 people for jobs such as ‘Sugar boilers’, delivery men and travelers who took orders from shops. A machine powered by a steam engine would grind the sugar into icing sugar before it was mixed with other ingredients. Often lolly mixtures were put through rolling machines to flatten and then they were cut into shapes. To make boiled lollies all the ingredients like sugar and glucose had to be melted first. “Sugar boilers” as they were called, would boil the ingredients in copper vats or tubs. How long the mixture was boiled for indicated the final texture of the lolly. Hot temperatures made a hard lolly and medium heat made a soft lolly. The mixture was then tipped out onto steel benches to stiffen and cool. When ready, the mixture was cut into straps and pulled over hooks on the wall. Hand cutters were used to cut the lengths into small pieces ready for sale. Treagles made everything in the way of confectionery from boiled lollies to chocolates and became very popular due to the high quality of their sweets. The Treagle brand of icing sugar was one of their best sellers.

A.M. Johnson, confectioner’s truck, from F.W. Johnson City Motor Works, Ipswich, 1920s
(Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)

A. M. Johnson bought the confectionery business in Bell Street from George Treagle in 1921. The business then moved to the corner of Bell and Union Streets to a larger factory known as The Johnson Lolly Factory or A. M. Johnson & Sons Confectionery Works. Mr Johnson bought his truck from his brother, F.W. Johnson’s dealership in Ipswich. The signage on the side of the truck read: “Morrows Biscuits & Confectionery” and “A.M. Johnson Manufacturing Confectioner”. In 1949 the Johnson Lolly Factory set a personal record of making 80,000 sugar Easter eggs in a variety of colours due to a huge demand at the time. Manufacturing sugar eggs took a total of three days starting with shaping the sugar mixture on a plastic mould and waiting for it to set. Then sweets and English novelties were put inside the egg which was then sealed with a rippled sugar mixture and baked at a temperature of 110 degrees. Chocolate Easter eggs started to be produced a year later with the installation of extra machinery. By 1950 The Johnson Lolly Factory was manufacturing coloured candy sticks (Fairy floss), boiled sweets, licorice all sorts, caramels, jubes and fondants.

Johnson lolly factory, corner Union and Bell Street, Ipswich, 1970
(Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)