Hi Tom
My Family Tree 'Resizable Notes' for John Henry Reed quotes info from Judith from the Ballarat Courier in which a Mr Swift and the Company are quoted.
This is from 'Victoria and Its Metropolis 1888' - a Directory:
'Wm Ford & Co. (Geo Swift), Melbourne
This firm of Pharmaceutical chemists, wholesale and retail druggists, medical agents,
and importers of surgical instruments, of 65 Swanston-street, was established
in 1849 by the late Mr. Wm. Ford, who built the front part of the premises on
a building lease, and continued the active management of the business until
1864, which he then to a great extent relinquished, devoting a great deal
of attention to the wine industry, and associating himself with, and
becoirming part proprietor of the Tahbilk vineyard, the development and
present success of which is doubtless due to the energy and capital
he introduced into it. At his death, in 1875, the business reverted to his
son, and subsequently, in 1879, to Mr. George Swift, who up to this time
had been associated with another firm in the city (Francis and Swift). Considerable
alterations and additions have been made, involving an outlay of
over J3000, and resulting in producing the largest and most imposing premises
of the kind in the colonies. This business has always held a leading position
amongst Melbourne pharmacies, holding contracts for the supply of drugs
and surgical appliances to many of the largest hospitals and public institutions
in the colonies, besides supplying the trade generally with preparations
of its manufacture.'
Richard
