another problem, solved

We were most intrigued by this bit of advertising revealed when whatever the building was on the corner of Nicholson St and Brookes Crescent North Fitzroy, was demolished:

Actually I suppose it is possible to look at Google Earth and see what the building was...

It was not one but two buildings, differently beautiful. Imagine perpetrating that demolition. You'd have to hate yourself. 

Anyway, we wondered what the ad was for, so strangely phrased. A bit of newspaper searching and it came up - the very oddly worded 'Monkey Brand won't wash clothes but with it the cook cooks in clean dishes.'

This is from the Hobart Mercury. I won't bother giving an exact date because the ad is replicated all over the place in newspapers from the first decade of the 20th century. 

It seems there were two versions but this is about all it ever was, apparently. 

The only other thing I have to say about Monkey Brand and its advertising is that it seems to have been very prominently advertised in newspapers in Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania but seemingly not as much in Victoria,* in fact of the Victorian papers I can only find one advertisement (and that was in Ballarat). But maybe it advertised in different ways in Victoria - well, obviously it had at least one wall advertisement.

I am still pissed off these houses were demolished and also that only this much of the ad remains on the wall of 554 Nicholson St but as all the smart people say, 'it is what it is'. 

*Don't know about SA or NSW - you check that out for yourself OK