The Argus, Melbourne, Friday 25^th January 1867, page 1.

“WANTED, a BOY, to blow bellows, Apply to Ferguson, Urie, and Lyon, Curzon-street, North Melbourne”.

Oh my! What a way to start a career! Close to 150 years later nothing much has changed though. The equivalent these days is the boy in the Asian sweat shop making vinyl sand shoes for multimillion dollar sports companies. The difference in this case is that the ‘Bellows’ boy was highly likely to have been given the opportunity for advancement in the company to improve his prospects in life. During the existence of the company many employees shared in its prosperity and were allowed all the opportunities for advancement.