The firm of Walker, Hood & Co., importing druggists was purchased by Youngman, McCann & Co. during 1855 with the proprietors being Henry and Edward Youngman and Joseph McCann. Soon after Robert Walker was operating as druggist whilst F.B. hood was dealing in stores. The importing and wholesale drug business of Youngman, McCann & Co. continued to operate from 125 Russell Street West, Melbourne in 1866.
During 1863 the business became known as Youngman & Co. however McCann remained a partner until 1864.
Fredrick Sheppard Grimwade, born 1840 Harleston, Norfolk, England was apprenticed by his father as a chemist but was to travel to Australia, arriving in 1862. During 1866 he formed a partnership with Alfred Fenton, born 1831, to purchase the business of Youngman & Co. Prior to this Felton had worked at Swanston Street, Melbourne as a druggist.
Having a need for large quantities of glass bottles, Felton Grimwade & Co. established the Melbourne Glass Bottle Works at graham Street Emerald Hill (South Melbourne) during 1872 with Grimwade, Felton and Canadian Lamberton LeBreton Mount as manager. Skilled glass blowers migrated to Australia to work at this factory which was close to raw materials of sand (silica) and shell grit (calcium and lime).
The Victorian Flint Glass Co., corner of Munster Terrace and Victoria Street, Hotham was established by the Tomas Bros., during 1869 however by 1871 Hall & Co. were the managers. This business was sold to Mount & Co. in 1874 to be moved to Beach Street, Emerald Hill.
During 1883 William Ansell was appointed manager of the MGBW Co. however he was soon replaced by Mount the following year.
It was during this period that an outstanding figure was progressing through the glass trade. This being William McNeilage, junior, born 1855 Glasgow Scotland who arrived in Victoria during 1864. McNeilage was educated at Melbourne and later entered his fathers business Tress Bottle Works and J. Brown & Co., Sydney. His father being one of the pioneers in Australian Glass manufacturing. Working periodically at both glass works McNeilage returned to Melbourne and in partnership with L. Smart, born Bristol. England and S. Richardson, born Yorkshire, England he established McNeilage & Co. American Glass Works, Dow Street, Port Melbourne in March 1886 however on 18th November 1889 he was appointed resident manager of the Melbourne Glass Bottle Works Co. where he was to work with the managing partner Mount. Due to progress of this company a new eleven acre site was chosen at Spottiswoode (Spotswood), Melbourne where a new factory was built. Mount having remained at Graham Street site soon travelled to England to access current methods of production. On his return he brought several German and English glass blowers. Also introduced at this time to two hand operated machines, imported from America, to produce wide mouth jars, using compresses air. During 1898 McNeilage was admitted as a partner, a position he occupied until he retired in 1922 aged 63 years.

With some 400employees, seven furnaces the weekly out put was 70 000 bottles. The bottles and Jars were used for beer, wine, sauces, jams, preserves and aerated waters. With the advent of Federation and the abolishment of state taxes, McNeilage travelled to Sydney to sell his Melbourne made products . Whist there he was offered a five acre site in Dowling Street, Waterloo where he established a bottle works which opened in 1903. later that year he travelled to America to study new methods. On his retune he adopted the block and plate system where the blower gathered a shaped the glass ball inside an iron cup (block). The glass ball was then elongated on a flat marver before being blown into a mould. The blower then reheated the top of the bottle to shape. McNeilage also recommended that a small bottle works, managed by W.J Smith, at Port Melbourne be purchased during 1903.
Due to intense competition between glass makers the MGBW Co. began to base mark there products.
On the death of Alfred Fenton, during 1903 an amount of money was bequeathed half of the income of his Estate to the National Gallery of Victoria to form the now important Felton Bequest Fund. The other half of the income of his Estate went to help charitable groups and to educate the poor.
During 1907 The Adelaide Glass Bottle Works, manager Gustov Hinrichsen, was purchased. The building was dismantled with a new factory being erected at Kilkenny.