The old Swanpool and Moorngag Butter factory, currently an antiques shop, has come across a unique bit of Benalla history.
Owner Chris Seeley said he was contacted by someone he had bought items from in the past, who said they had stumbled across a box of old show cards.
Show cards were essentially hand painted, in-store advertising.
Those uncovered by Mr Seeley were from several business in Benalla, including Millers — which, of course, is still trading today.
“The show cards were there to excite the customers and get them interested in what the shop had for sale,” Mr Seeley said.
"They were all handmade, each unique. They were made by people called show card writers.
“But they were actually sign writers, and it was part of their trade to also make show cards.”
As these were in-store advertising, not all indicate which shop they came from.
There are a couple which were to advertise the services of the show card writer, Stan Sullivan, who was operating out of 18 Nixon St, Benalla.
“I went and had a look at them and the lady said are you interested in these? Otherwise they’re going to the tip,” Mr Seeley said.
“I said I’m definitely interested. Hand painted signs are very rare now.”
And to find some in such a good condition, that were used in stores in Benalla, only added to the intrigue.
The fact they exist at all, and are in such good condition is amazing.
Once they had served their purpose they weren’t much use, many would have been thrown away.
Obviously at the time someone at Millers, and other shops in town, have put them away and eventually someone has kept, and stored them.
And it was only good luck that Mr Seeley came across them before they ended up in the tip.
They are now part of a collection of antiques available for the public to purchase.
And that collection is extensive with everything from dinner sets, jewellery, classic toys, furniture, farm equipment and much, much more.
Customers can not only peruse all these amazing items, and buy anything they like the look of, they can do it in one of the areas most historic buildings.
The old Swanpool Butter Factory is more than 130 years old.
It’s butter was so popular it was sold, and often won awards, in the United Kingdom.
“This building is actually the fifth building on this site,” Mr Seeley said.
“Every time they knocked a building down, they built it three times bigger so you can see the growth over time, there was a huge demand.
“The oldest building on site is 133 years old.
“It’s been a fair bit of work to bring it back to what it once was. But I’ve tried to keep it authentic and use the same colours.”
The old Swanpool and Moorngag Butter Factory is open every Sunday from 10am to 5pm.