The company was formed in 1879 by Logan, Weber, Barnfield, Lawrance and others and installed American ice-making machinery[1] at their premises, the old Ebenezer Chapel off the east end of Rundle Street.
The motive behind this decision was the desirability of retaining workers during winter months, when their only occupation was maintenance and overhauling of machinery.
A trial batch of starch which previously had to be imported, was well received at the 1884 Exhibition; production began in 1885, closely followed by cornflour.
This plant, comprising three independent machines of different capacities, could produce 40 tons of ice per day, and more efficiently, so the price could be reduced by a third.
The venture immediately proved troublesome, and after two independent enquiries, the Light Square factory was turned by the Peake government from a derided competitor to a contractor for the supply of ice to Crystal.
Both companies are now defunct; the factory complex at Hindmarsh was taken over as part of University Research Park; one building has become "Alaska Towers".
[23] Vinrace Lawrance (16 January 1833 – 5 September 1922) was a prominent Adelaide accountant, member of the Stock Exchange and secretary of A.C.I.C.
He was heavily involved in the mining industry and had a fine collection of minerals including prize samples of crystalline gold.
[28] He married Gertrude Ruby Reid (c. 1888 – 15 December 1933) on 26 September 1908; they lived at "Coonvrai", Beaufort street, Woodville.
Thomas Barnfield (c. 1848 – 19 August 1931) married Mary Ann Thomson (c. 1846 – 12 June 1927) on 4 April 1889; they lived at Wasleys, then Nottage Terrace, Medindie.