General News
21 August, 2023
Big event on the cards for 2023 bottle show, organiser says
Pouring back into the town for its 50th installation, the Maryborough Antique Bottle Club’s annual event could stir up a record-breaking turnout as it gets underway this weekend. Celebrating its golden return, the bottle show will feature...
Pouring back into the town for its 50th installation, the Maryborough Antique Bottle Club’s annual event could stir up a record-breaking turnout as it gets underway this weekend.
Celebrating its golden return, the bottle show will feature artefacts and collectibles, worth more than $100,000, dating back to the 1600s.
Maryborough Antique Bottle Club member and event organiser Steve Greenwood said he was keen to kick off the show and see the unique range of items on display.
“I’m excited, it’s nerve-wracking in the lead up but it’s also really exciting because you never see the same bottles, there’s always something different that pops up,” he said.
“This year there’ll be 51 stallholders, which is up from our last show [where we had 44] so it’s panning out to be a big one, a very big one.
“Lots will be happening especially at the competitive display corner where people will be putting up some top-notch stuff — one collector will be bringing his 17th century black glass and on an average some of the pieces are between $50,000 to $60,000.”
Expecting around 2500 to 3000 visitors, Mr Greenwood said the turnout could be the show’s highest recorded.
“On Saturday, right through about the middle of the afternoon, people won’t be able to move in the hall — it’ll just be [so packed],” he said.
“One of the shows we did a couple of years ago had around 3000 attendees and that was our biggest event and we could see even more people this time.
“There are very limited shows now, since COVID and those shows that have been in operation, have excelled so I hope people come because there’s a variety of things to see.”
The bottle show, along with a swap and sell section, will run from this Saturday, August 26 from 9 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, August 27 from 9 am to 3 pm at the Maryborough Harness Racing Club on 337 Bucknall Street, Carisbrook.
Entry to the show on Saturday is $5 while on Sunday it’s a gold coin donation.