Kodak began in Western Australia in 1924, with the Perth branch opening in an old optical supplier's store at 672 Hay Street, managed by Edgar Rouse, son of managing director J.J. Rouse.

This was one of Edgar's earliest postings and he later went on to become Managing Director of the company. In Perth, Rouse was responsible for managing the staff and sales until late 1925 when he returned to Sydney. 

Kodak then moved to 660/662 Hay Street in 1926. The move was managed by new manager F.J. Muirhead, who had previously opened and managed the Hobart branch for nearly 10 years. He remained at Perth until 1929.

Mr Beach then became manager, followed by Fred Manning Junior in 1938 until replaced by Arthur Wonson in 1940.

Hay Street had a basement warehouse, retail service centre, and processing laboratory. From the outset, the Perth branch advertised their one-day processing service (Sunday Times, 21 Dec 1924) and provided other services such as dark lighting for a local university research building (Western Mail, 31 Oct 1935), and school lecture services.

Kodak opened a wholesale salesroom and warehouse in the suburbs of Perth at 174 Hampden St, Hollywood in 1957. According to the company records, some duplication between the wholesale functions of Hay Street and Hollywood continued for a time but eventually, much of the wholesale and administration function was governed from the Hollywood premises.

An even larger distribution centre and warehouse in Kewdale opened circa 1971.

The Kodak Heritage Collection contains images of the Hay Street Store, plus some documents relating to the wholesale sites at Kewdale and Hollywood.


References:

Archive File - Kodak Archive, Series 11 'Property Titles', Sub-Series 7, File 2 , 'Western Australia - Kewdale', Perth.

Archive File - Kodak Archive, Series 11 'Property Titles', Sub-Series 7, File 3 , 'Kewdale Certificate of Title', Perth.

Archive File - Kodak Archive, Series 11 'Property Titles', Sub-Series 7, File 4 , '660/662 Hay St, Perth'

Archive File - Kodak Archive, Series 11 'Property Titles', Sub-Series 7, File 5 , '173-176a Hampden Rd, Hollywood'

Beale, N. The History of Kodak in Australia, Coburg, 1983

'KODAK, LTD.', Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), 21 December 1924, p. 14, viewed 19 February, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58259517

'KODAK LTD.', Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), 31 October 1935, p. 12, viewed 19 February, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38945769

More Information