of the 20th century. Many argued that it was superior to Lever Bros famous Sunlight soap. In the 1888 Official Post Office Directory for New South Wales, Newcastle District, (p. 424), there appears "Upfold, Charles, soap factory". On 6 April 1895 the Newcastle Morning Herald carried a large article entitled "Departure of Mr Charles Upfold – Citizen's Send-off". Charles was about to depart for England, Europe and America, and a large function was given in his honour at the Centennial Hotel in Newcastle, with an impressive guest list of local worthies. He returned from that overseas trip at the end of September and another large article describing his tour appeared in the same newspaper on 3 October 1895. In 1895 the Port Waratah works employed over 500 people. In 1898 his son, Robert Wallace Upfold, now manager of the soap & candle factory, was married to Clara, daughter of John Scholey, (a local landowner and colliery proprietor from Leeds; described in the 1901 Federal Directory as a "gentleman"). Charles Upfold, the father, is described on the certificate as "Managing Director – Soap Works". Robert had a residence in Woodstock Street, North Waratah, and the 1901 Federal Directory of Newcastle & District records him as a "manufacturer". On 21 October 1899, Charles Upfold was mentioned as being on the committee of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce. The late professor John Turner wrote: "the modern technology and large scale of the Sydney Soap and Candle Company made it the outstanding industrial establishment of its kind. Upfold had wide experience of colonial conditions and constructed his Port Waratah works on recent British and American lines, in a location which gave unequalled access to tallow and coal." He appears to have taken an additional interest in mining. In 1897 he was part of a syndicate which was proposing to purchase a gold mine at Barraba, New South Wales. In 1904 he was also a Director (along with his friend John Scholey) of Aberdare Collieries Co.Ltd., and the Chairman of the board of management for its railways. On 2 September 1899 he left Sydney on board the Oceanic Steamship Company's RMS Alameda for Samoa to arrange for purchases of shipments of copra. Civic, family, and death In 1871 Charles Upfold was an Alderman on the Wickham Municipal Council, Newcastle. and he was still there in 1878 when he held Tighe's Hill Ward. However the following