Crystal Palace Hotel

789-791 George Street

Quarter pint spirit bottle. Square sided and similar in appearance to a small schnapps. Clear, applied top. Extremely rare. Embossed on sides near base: "FITZ'S CRYSTAL PALACE HOTEL".

Imperial Quart. Clear glass, applied top. No maker's name. 

Trade mark - griffon. Embossed on front: "FITZ'S CRYSTAL PALACE TRADE MARK LIQUOR EMPORIUM GEORGE STREET SYDNEY".

Note:

At time of launching this website in September, 2001, there was only one example known of this bottle. 

However, the following article appeared in The Australian Bottle & Collectables Review (Oct/Nov/Dec 2002. P.5):

"Kerran Howe from up Deniliquin way went out to bag himself a few rabbits for the evening meal. Permission to shoot on a property that had proved to be a dud for bottles years earlier was granted. Near the location of a long gone outstation some 10 km from the main homestead, Kerran noticed a Codd bottle that had been uncovered by recent winds laying at the base of a sandhill. It was a common Deniliquin Codd. Rabbits were forgotten as several bottles were scratched out of the sandhill. Mainly common run of the mill ring seals, imperials quarts and common Codds. Amongst these was one whisky, which was a Fiz's from Sydney." Thus, at least a second example is now known....

The Griffin is a mythical animal with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle, and it guarded the gold in Scythia (northeast of Greece). Through combining two powerful animals, it was thought to be even stronger. 

“Portrayed with a lion’s body and an eagle’s wings, long ears and eagles claws to indicate that one must combine intelligence and strength” Boeckler, 1688.

Extreme close-up of the trade mark Griffin's head and wings.

Note: showing more accurately its colour and minute bubbles. Somewhat soft embossing.

One gallon Demi-John. Available in one and two gallon sizes, but only one of each size known to date. No maker's name.

Property of Col Wise.

Laurence F. Fitzgerald was publican from 1898-1907. The hotel is still in business today.