Where "Milo" Comes From
Invented by Australian industrial chemist Thomas Mayne in Sydney during the Depression, specifically as an affordable, nutritious drink for children, and launched at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in 1934. It's named after Milo of Croton, a celebrated strongman of ancient Greek athletics.
A detail most Australians don't know: Milo has always been, and still is, manufactured in a single factory in Smithtown on the NSW mid-north coast β not overseas, despite NestlΓ©'s global reach with the brand today.
Source:
"Want a Milo before bed?"
How Aussies Actually Use It
It's used for the powder itself, the drink made from it, and even eaten dry by the spoonful by generations of kids.
"A Milo before bed" is a classic bit of Australian childhood nostalgia.
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