Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot Biscuits

When I was younger my family and I would visit my Grandma and Grandpa once a week, often for dinner. The dinner and dessert were always delicious and afterwards we’d retire to the lounge room (where Grandpa was usually already seated). The dishes would eventually be washed and much later (not long before we’d leave) we returned to the kitchen and sat down at the table to eat supper.

Sitting down for supper is one of my fondest childhood memories. Grandpa went to bed early so Mum, Dad and Grandma would have tea and my brother and I would occasionally have milo. Accompanied by our drinks were always Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot biscuits. Grandma would set them out on a plate and place them in the middle of the table along with the butter. I’d eagerly take a biscuit and get on with the task of buttering the flat side. Then, depending on my preference that day, I’d either eat the buttered biscuit on its own or place another biscuit on top and eat them like a sandwich.

Though probably not the healthiest of snacks they were nevertheless delicious. They were an incredibly simple end to a night but still managed to give a lot of pleasure. It was thinking of this memory that made me curious about the historical advertising pertaining to Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot biscuits. I began searching through Trove and came across the following ads:

Arnott’s Living Pictures – 1902

Arnott’s Living Pictures – 1914

My Biscuit! – 1920

Delight Your Children – 1923

Arnott’s Famous Milk Arrowroot Biscuits – 1934

Recipe for Health – 1945

The Rising Generation – 1950

Safe Home!! – 1955

You just don’t outgrow your fondness for Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot Biscuits – 1967

Update: 27 March 2017

Lynda Marsh has shared with me a lovely ad printed by Arnott’s which features her Grandmother, Dorothy Cronin, as part of the Arnott’s Living Pictures campaign. What an adorable image!

Sources:

• 1902 ‘Advertising.’, The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), 1 July, p. 7, viewed 28 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19171065
• 1914 ‘Advertising.’, The Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 – 1933), 7 December, p. 3, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20000288
• 1920 ‘Advertising.’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 18 August, p. 9, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15902713
• 1923 ‘Advertising.’, The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 – 1929), 15 March, p. 13, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64175072
• 1934 ‘Advertising.’, The Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 – 1982), 17 February, p. 41, viewed 28 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article46465476
• 1945 ‘Advertising.’, The Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 – 1982), 6 January, p. 32, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47117706
• 1950 ‘Advertising.’, The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 – 1954), 27 December, p. 1, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26747781
• 1955 ‘Advertising.’, The Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 – 1982), 27 July, p. 64, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41448881
• 1967 ‘Advertising.’, The Australian Women’s Weekly (1933 – 1982), 2 August, p. 55, viewed 29 December, 2011, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article51806611