Kodak Retail Branch in Sydney, New South Wales, 1890s-

The Sydney branch of Baker & Rouse began in June 1891 when Baker & Rouse bought Lichtner & Co's photographic stock business. Baker & Rouse purchased the stock and then moved into entirely new premises at 375 George Street. 

A newspaper noted that Baker & Rouse had "an extensive stock of the most modern photographic stock appliances, optical lantern goods and sundries. A dark room is fitted up for the convenience of amateurs."

The manager of the Sydney branch in the 1890s was Mr Trowbridge, who transferred to Melbourne in the second half of 1900.  Mr AJ Perier had joined the company in 1892 and at this time there were four adult and 2 junior staff members.

They Sydney branch became central to Baker & Rouse business activities. In 1899, just before Federation, it was noted that the company's official prices were calculated for the Sydney branch, as Sydney had the only port that was free of duty.  Where customs duties were payable in other colonies, these costs were added on to the base prices.

In 1900 the Australasian Photo-Review, published by Baker & Rouse, noted that it looked forward to the "abolition of various and perplexing intercolonial tariffs" that prevented "freedom of commerce" in the year of Federation, and which gave photographers in Sydney an advantage.

Around 1900 the Sydney warehouse had three departments - photographic, phonographic and optics; magic lanterns; and cinematographs. By 1904 the store was also selling photographs and graphophones.

The Sydney branch was quite successful in winning new customers. In 1905 it won a tender to supply the NSW public service with photographic and photo-lithographic materials.

Led by JJ Rouse and his manager, the Sydney branch introduced novel marketing campaigns, including sending their staff to society balls dressed in outfits that advertised the company. In July 1905, Miss Divers and Mr Fred Manning attended the Royal Alexandra Hospital Plain and Fancy Dress Ball and Carnival at Sydney Town Hall, also known as the Red, White and Blue ball. Taking advantage of the fancy dress theme, they both wore 'poster' costumes, with Mr Manning promoting Baker & Rouse, and Miss Divers advertising Kodak Limited, which they had the sole Australian agency for at that time.

In Sydney, Baker & Rouse moved into new premises in late 1905, retaining their original store at 375 George Street but adding to it with the shopfront next door at 377 George Street Sydney. Mr AJ Perier was the manager at this time. By 1907 Mr Fred Manning was the new manager.

The building that Baker & Rouse were tenants in was sold in 1907, and new premises were sought. A new Sydney home for the company finally came about in 1908 after a merger with Eastman Kodak, creating Australian Kodak Limited. Sydney was appointed as the retail and marketing headquarters of the company, led by JJ Rouse.

The funds invested in the new company by Eastman Kodak meant that the business could now purchase its own retail property, and the prime retail location of 379 George Street was soon secured for the new Kodak headquarters. In October 1908 tenders were called for to erect a shop and warehouse. John Reid was the architect, and Mr W Williamson won the construction tender.

Within a year, in July 1909, Australian Kodak Limited opened their new headquarters in Sydney. Newspapers reported that the company spent £8,000 on the new building. JJ Rouse treated his staff to a celebratory dinner at Café Francais. In return the Sydney manager, Fred Manning, gave a speech and presented an illuminated address to JJ Rouse on behalf of the staff.

Over the next decade the Sydney branch advertised its business extensively, including in a local French language newspaper, Le Courrier Australie.

Kodak took over the next door building where another photographic company, Harringtons, had operated a shop. A new Kodak House was constructed in 1955 in a modern form for the company at the combined site of 379 / 381 George Street Sydney, which opened for business in 1957.

References

The Australasian, 12 February 1887, p. 45, 12 March 1887, p.46; 4 June 1887, p.46; 16 July 1898, p.6

Australasian Photo-Review, March 1899 p.ix; August 1900, p.1-2; September 1900, p.30; December 1900, p.x; July 1909, pp.345-346, 349-350, 385-386

Daily Telegraph, 20 June 1891, p.6

Evening News (Sydney), 25 June 1891, p.2; 1 March 1905, p.3; 24 July 1909, p.14

Milestones in the History of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 1985

Museums Victoria, Kodak Heritage Collection, HT 30131, Manuscript - Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd, Edgar Rouse, Draft of Speech Made at Official Opening of Kodak House, Sydney, May 1957

Le Courrier Australie, 21 March 1919, p.2; 7 March 1919, p.2

NSW Government Gazette, 5 June 1891, p.4216

Punch, 13 July 1905, pp.13, 27

Sunday Times, 4 July 1909, p.2

Sydney Mail, 23 March 1904, p.709; 12 July 1905, p.91,110

Sydney Morning Herald, 17 Dec 1900, p.3; 9 Oct 1907, p.15; 3 Oct 1908, p.23; 27 Oct 1908, p.8; 27 Dec 1909, p.2;

University of Rochester Library, Kodak Historical Collection #003, Series II, Corporate Papers National & International, Subseries 10: National and International Kodak Locations, Box 59: Annual Reports and Data, Folder 9: Information on Foreign Companies (File 1 of 3)

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