The Arnotts Biscuit Factory operated at Homebush from 1908 to 1997, when it was relocated to Huntingwood. However, the administrative offices of Arnotts are still located in Homebush.
Arnott’s Biscuits were originally established in Newcastle. The first Sydney factory was opened at Forest Lodge in 1894. In 1905, the Arnott family wanting to expand, decided that a larger factory was required. Requiring access to the railway for transportation, the Arnott’s purchased a six and half acre site at Homebush in 1906, with rail siding access. The factory was designed by architect Charles Slatyer and built in 1907-08 at a cost of £10,400.
The purchase was known as ‘Arnott’s Folly’ as the site was considered too far from the City to attract workers. However, the Homebush factory which opened in 1908 was eventually the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and exported biscuits from Homebush to the rest of the world.
The Homebush factory had little difficulty in finding workers in the district and it has been commented that there were few families in Homebush who didn’t work for Arnott’s. The Arnott’s were regarded as good employers. During the economic Depression of the 1930s, Arnotts reduced the operational hours of the factory rather than dismissing their workers, which was the usual practice. Many members of the Arnott family lived in Strathfield, including the founder William Arnott.
The original Homebush factory expanded with increased production, requiring a new building on the western side of George St. The two factories were connected by an overhead walkway. By 1933 the number of employees peaked at 2,500 and annual production exceeded 10,250 tons.
Deliveries were originally made by horse and buggy, but these made way for the famous red delivery vans in the late 1920s.
The Homebush factory covered three floors. The bottom level had an ingredients preparations section and processing department where icing, chocolate coating and cream filling were made. The middle level had a mixing room, Bakehouse and wafer and packaging department. The top floor had packaging facilities, office areas and workshops.
Arnott’s Biscuits were originally delivered in tins. Tins were returned and recycled. However, biscuit tins which were damaged or broken were crushed. Many were buried under the car park and Arnott’s Bowling Green (which is now part of the Powell’s Creek Corridor).
Some tins were melted and used for land reclamation in nearby Mason Park. Albert Mason was the Mayor of Homebush and Chief electrician of Arnott’s Biscuits. The park is named after him.
The Arnott’s factory was relocated to Huntingwood in 1997 and the Homebush factory was closed. The former factory has been readapted into the Bakehouse Quarter. This site provides many references to its Arnott’s history ranging from the SAO sign to small Arnott’s Parrot emblems woven into building facades. George St has been recast with a cobblestone road and Edwardian style-lighting harking back to the days in the early twentieth century when the Arnott factory was first built.
Written by Cathy Jones 2006.
Attachment
Arnotts End of Era at Homebush 1997 (article from Inner West Courier)
Strathfield Heritage 
As a young girl I used to visit friends in George Street, Homebush and walked past the Arnotts factory and smelling all those wonderful smells.
I belong to a group called Friends over Fifty and we organise a quarterly programme for the group, such as tours, walks etc. Does your company organise tours of Arnotts Factory? If so, would you kindly advise me of day, times and costs for our consideration to place in the next programme. Many Thanks Gail Turner
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As a young girl I used to visit friends in George Street, Homebush and walked past the Arnotts factory and smelling all those wonderful smells.
I belong to a group called Friends over Fifty and we organise a quarterly programme for the group, such as tours, walks etc. Does your company organise tours of Arnotts Factory? If so, would you kindly advise me of day, times and costs for our consideration to place in the next programme. Many Thanks Gail Turner
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Gail
We don’t organise tours of Arnott’s Factory as the factory has been redeveloped into a shopping/restaurant/office district called the Bakehouse Quarter, which anyone can visit.
Cathy
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My father in law was in the paper as a little 2 yr old as an advertisement for Arnotts years ago. The newspaper advert in the paper has been mislaid. Wld Arnotts still have any of these details so we can get a copy. His name was Harry Kiely. He lived around Forrest Lodge when Arnotts where open there and selected for the advert.Pls reply if we can get any information.
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Could you put me in touch with someone who could identify and old Arnotts biscuit tin I have.
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Hi there. I collect Arnotts tins and might be able to help you to ID if you still have the tin. Cheers.
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Dylan i am a Arnotts descendant and also just got a tin i am trying to pick a age for, it a old tin paper wrapped plain mix it is stamped on the bottom and on the paper. I know its after 1907 as that when homebush opened but pretty sure pre 50s due to paper wrapping and not printing on the tin
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Dear managment of Arnotts biscuits please do something about bringing back the good old days of honey snap biscuits,as a young lad many years ago the times spent with family with a plate of honey snaps.i believe that there is a lot of aussies that feel the same way please do consider this request.or tell me were i can get the original arnotts recipe from.there is no substitute for a arnotts biscuit.
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Yes we want Honey Snaps’s back.
Great idea or sell us the recipie
John Peoples
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‘On his T is the best Polly I see’ was Arnotts motto, that’s where the parrot on a branch derived from…. ‘Honesty is the best policy’.
My grandfather returned from the war injured, he married and started his family and they lived in Home bush. After the depression, when they expanded, he was the chief builder on the western side building. I grew up smelling the biscuits cooking whenever we visited my grandmother (my grandfather died in 1958). Every year Arnotts sent her a complementary Christmas Edition tin. Always a part of the Arnotts Biscuits family. My brother was named after Jeffrey Arnott. Nice memories.
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Helen, these are great stories. Arnotts had a good reputation as an employer. Cathy
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Hi,
could you tell me what technolgy was used when the company first opened and how is it
different from the technogy used today, and how does arnotts biscuits cater for australians today?
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Emma
You may be interested in an archaelogical assessment that was written in 1995 about the Arnott’s site. A copy of this assessment is available at http://nswaol.library.usyd.edu.au/view?docId=pdfs/11201_ID_1995_ARNOTT'S_FACTORY_SITE.pdf;query=strathfield;brand=default
Regards
Cathy
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Hello,
I just wanted to enquire about the modern Arnott’s Factory. Can one visit it? We are curious to find out about the different technologies used in the factory in order to compare them to how they were previously. We are also interested in finding about about the production methods.
Thanks : )
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You should contact Arnott’s directly. I am unaware of any tours of the new Arnott’s Factory at Huntingwood. I noticed an article in Time Out about a visit to the factory http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/aroundtown/features/5145/time-out-and-the-chocolate-factory
Cathy
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My nane is Frances Quayle( Maid names Stockton) I used to at Arnott’s from 1975 till 1981 Is there any one who work there it be great to here from you
Thank you
Frances
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My mother in law worked there during that time
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Hi my mum work from 1965 to 1968.
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I served my apprenticeship as a plumber at Arnotts in the sixties. Just wondering if any other apprentices are still out there.
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My father was the foreman plumber at Arnotts and worked there for 34 years. I have inherited an Arnotts mirror which he had framed when he retired in 1981. I am interested to find out how many mirrors were produced and if Arnotts themselves are interested in buying
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I am keen to buy your Arnotts mirror, as I collect Arnotts items. My name is Pete and number is 0400761801
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I am currently compiling our family history and my mother (Patricia Dyason) said she worked at Arnotts Biscuits in Homebush as a young girl before she got married. It would have been about 1943-1945 after she left school. She said it was her favourite place to work. She had a lot of friends there and Arnotts was good work for. She also said she loved those pink VOVO biscuits!
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my name is john from uk i worked at Arnotts in the 1980s,,a mixer loved it there ,and made good freinds there,,i now live in uk again !!
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I went to McDonald College at Strathfield starting in 1987 & the school was originally in the old Arnotts House. I think it was the Arnotts family home?? I think its now a mens shelter & the school no longer owns it.
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My father told me that during the Depression men would sit outside the factory waiting to be given broken biscuits. While waiting they used to draw on the footpath with chalk and he said many were quite accomplished artists.
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I’m STILL waiting for Honey Snaps to be reintroduced! Pleeeease Arnotts!!
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Honey snaps are sorely missed ….!
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I miss Honey Snaps. It was one of the best memories i have about going over to Grandmas place. She use to have packets waiting for us.
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Hi
As Arnotts are not bringing Honey Snap biscuits back is it possible to get the recipe
Thanks
Sharon
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You would have to contact Arnott’s directly. If they aren’t making the biscuit, maybe they should reveal the receipe for all the Honey Snap devotees out there!
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hi is there a arnotts biscuit truck still in Australia for viewing,im rebuilding one 1925 model old crank start,
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I don’t know. Maybe contact Arnott’s directly whether they have maintained one of the old trucks for viewing or promotion.
Cathy
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Thanks cathy
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Does anyone know what happened to the clock that was on the factory building at Homebush. ?
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I was wondering if anyone knows about an arnotts tin of assorted ice wafers looks very old. Thanks in advance
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I find it very depressing nowadays to stand in front of the Arnott’s Biscuit selection in the supermarket. Particularly the plain biscuit selection…it is so sad….no more than dozen varieties and swear half of those are made from the same mixture. As a kid in the 1940/50’s we had such a great variety of great biscuits. I loved Butter Oatcakes and Golden Rough and there was a round one like the sun that I can’t remember the name of and plenty more that have gone. Even the old Teacake seems to have disappeared now. Seems the only one’s that have survived are the one’s I don’t like. As a kid Mum would send me to the corner shop to get 2 shillings worth of “plain ordinary sweet mixed biscuits” ha ha….I will never forget that. The shopkeeper would go along opening about 10 Arnott’s biscuit tins and put a few of each in the bag. A large brown paper bag full……but never SAO’s…..you would always buy them separate…1 shilling would buy the same bag full of SAO,s.
Of all the things that you could go back for a visit …I think I would choose to go to one more “playlunch” time with a bag of the “old time” Arnott’s Biscuits.
Such a shame to think that all those wonderful biscuit recipes developed by the real Arnott’s are locked away somewhere by modern day greed. If they don’t want to use them they should sell the recipe’s to someone who will produce them once again and make a lot of older people very happy. Of course nowadays they would have to call them “Gourmet Biscuits”..!!!!….but to me they will always be “Arnott’s plain ordinary sweet mixed biscuits.
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Please bring back the honey snaps there is nothing better than enjoying them with a cup of tea. My grandmother and I always did this and I would like to do it with my daughter too!
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My grandmother’s maiden name was Greenland and she grew up in Waratah, a suburb of Newcastle, in the late 1800s. Her brother, Harry Greenland, worked as an accountant for Arnotts in Newcastle and then in Homebush.
My mother, who is in her mid 90’s, would love to hear any news about her uncle or that long lost branch of her family.
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Hello Bev, I’m researching GREENLAND (& my GLEN) family history to pass on to Cam Greenland. I have quite a lot to share and would appreciate contact from you so as we can share. Please either email me on ocean0446@gmail.com or tele. 9948 3176 (Manly NSW). Look forward to hearing from you
Helen Woodward (nee Glen)
Manly NSW
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Hi Bev, I’ve been researching Harry Greenland for my cousin Campbell Greenland. Please send me an email at ocean0446@gmail.com and we can share.
Regards
Helen Woodward (nee Glen)
Manly NSW
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Hi Helen, I received your message earlier in the week, thank you. Perhaps we can have a chat after the first week of January as we are in the Christmas invasion, lasting until 5/01/16. Best wishes to you and your family for Christmas and I look forward to talking in January. My mother also sends her best wishes to all Greenland descendants. Bev Paton
>
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Hi Grayeme,
I believe the plain biscuit you described as “round one like the sun” was called Harvest Home and had stems of wheat radiating like sun-rays.
Sadly our change in eating habits would not give Arnotts the justification to bring back all or some of the old favourites. It would be of interest if Arnotts were to produce a full list of their discontinued lines with some archived detail about each.
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I worked at arnotts in the mid sixties as a truck offsider [ wagon boy ] loved the place, it was tough even the girls could fight pretty wel
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I know its a long shot but I am looking for records of some employees of the Arnott’s factory in early 1926. The names I am after are the surname Cuneo and Anne Millard. I think Anne was employed as a packer. Does anyone know if there are records of the employee’s anywhere and if there is where I might find them.
David Moore
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Hi David,
I am doing the same as you but for a Frank Bailey. Did you have any luck finding employee records and where?
Thank you.
Emma
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WHY HAVE THEY NEVER BOUGHT BACK THE LARGE TIN OF assorted biscuits from THE MID SIXTIES. They had a dome bicky with hundreds and 1000snds and iced bickies my favorite they were extremely popular. Can anybody name the other bickies in the tin.
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Bramwell Pincham worked at Arnott’s Sydney – at times drove a flash Arnott’s car
Broken biscuits is an Arnotts tin each Christmas for his kids – around 1930’s on
– any memories are appreciated
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When I was young in the 1950s you had a sweet plain square biscuit named either ‘lemon cream’ or ‘cream lemon’ biscuits. They were beautiful. Then in later times there was a round biscuit called ‘tea cake’ with lattice pattern on the top and fluted around the edge. Why have they discontinued these? Also I think a nice plain sweet biscuit would be the ‘monte carlo’ without the cream.
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I rember the tea cake biscuit.
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My nanna, Mary Kelly, worked at Arnott’s biscuits in the late forties/early fifties.
She was living in Bridge Road Homebush at the time.
She died 1956.
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I remember you Doug, My name is Albert Gravino I wasn’t an apprentice there I was a general hand then drove a forklift. I live across the road from Jim Muscat who was a T.A. with the plumbers. We always used to stop & talk in the “lane”. I was there from ’62 – ’70.
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My husband remembers collecting spilt wheat from Arnotts wheat silo, did they have a flour mill onsite in the early days, this would of been in the forties?
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When i was 16 i remember the beaut taste of an Arnotts “SAO” IN 1954, Well no more. I’m 81 now and i can tell you two problems you now have trying to bring back that beaut ” SAO” , that was on the rear of the Woman’s Weekly. It read “There is no substitute for Quality”
The problem being that the people in Quality Control were not born back in the 50’s, so they do not know, what a real”SAO” tastes like. They were never “BRITTLE, HARD or THIN” the all over colour you have improved on, But the ” 1954 SAO WAS “SOFTER, THICKER with the internal layers inside were EXPANDED layers of Pastry. I am surprised that cooking records from 1954 have been lost. I still buy them but feel they are second rate to what I, remember, so sad. Mr Neville Whittaker.
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