Arnott's Biscuits history traces back to Maitland bakery

The history of the iconic Australian brand Arnott's Biscuits began with Scottish immigrant William Arnott, who arrived in Sydney in 1848. After initially selling spices and confectionery, William opened his first official bakery on High Street in Maitland in 1853.

Following several business setbacks caused by floods in Maitland, the business eventually relocated to Morpeth and then to Newcastle, where the first large steam biscuit factory was established. Driven by the personal tragedy of losing his first two children, William focused on infant nutrition, which led to the development of the Milk Arrowroot biscuit.

Today, William's great-great-great-grandson, Stephen Arnott, and his wife Allison are working to preserve the family legacy, having recently acquired the site of the original Maitland bakery.