Helidon Spa Water Company
Primrose later emigrated to Queensland, Australia where his brother Francis had already settled. In January 1871, Francis is listed as having made a "pre-emptive selection" of 264 acres of agricultural land at Emu Creek, about 17 miles north of Crows Nest. The quality of the water at Helidon had long been known to the indigenous population who claimed that their strength came from the water. In 1879, chemist Reginald Larard was selling water from the spring as "Oogar Dang Water", and by 1881 had entered a partnership with Gilbert Primrose who, had purchased the agricultural land around the springs, establishing the Helidon Spa Water Company.
When Larard left, Primrose became managing director of the company. Describing that the former partnership "had expired by effluxion of time", this led Primrose to seek new investors in a proposed limited company. In October 1885, a special train was laid to transport potential investors from Brisbane to view the springs and taste its water, described as "full of sparkling effervescence and perfectly clear". Concerns over breakages led the company to start transporting the water from Helidon to a new bottling factory in Brisbane. In October 1895 Primrose sued a Jean de Raeve for an unpaid debt of £19 0s. 7d due to the company. The company's success was such that competitors were frequently taken to court for breach of copyright. In May 1897, Primrose successfully took action against Alfred Lucas Gardner, trading as "Owen Gardner and Sons" who had been selling soft drinks in Brisbane since 1850, for "infringement of his patent rights in connection with the sale of Helidon Spa water". This prevented Gardner and Sons from using the words 'Helidon' or 'Spa Water' on their bottles or advertisements, until a similar suit against Edward Campbell of the 'Brisbane Aerated Water Company' was appealed and the rules were relaxed.
To compete with competition from imported products, Helidon Spa Water Company and Owen Gardner & Sons merged in 1959 to become Helidon Gardner Pty Ltd, trading under the name Kirk's, named for Owen Garner & Sons flagship product "Kirk's Ginger Ale". Brisbane bottler, Tristrams was also invited to take part in the merger, but declined. Today, Kirks is owned by Coca-Cola Amatil, and continue to produce a variety of soft drinks available Australia wide.
