Summary

Black and white silver gelatin photograph taken at ground level of the east face of Building 7, Testing, under construction, Kodak factory, Coburg, June1958.

Building 7, Testing, was typical of the structural style used in many of the manufacturing buildings throughout the complex. It was single-storey, low profile, with encased steel columns and steel trussed roofs. It had brick outer walls allowing large open spaced interiors with air-conditioning and other local services installed in the central ceiling space. This meant that any internal walls and divisions were light weight and non-load-bearing and could easily be altered to match changes to manufacturing requirements.

One of the architectural aims of this landscaped complex was to show that although much of the structural style of these factory buildings was simple and utilitarian, through high quality finishes and special architectural features and detailing, the public view of this site was of a stylish work precinct. The long frontage of Building 7 (which faced Elizabeth Street) featured a decorative facade (sufficiently high enough to hide the roofline), with full length aluminium framed wall panels, featuring strong vertical mullion lines that incorporated the windows in the centre line of panels. Occupying the centre of the building was a relatively small two-storey steel, concrete and brick walled section. It protruded out from the building line and served as the ground floor entrance, with management offices above. It featured an aluminium framed all-glass panelled window occupying the complete east end. In this view, the steel roof and brick walls appear to have been completed, the facade almost finished and the interior being fitted out.

Kodak manufactured and distributed a wide range of photographic products to Australasia, such as, film, paper, chemicals, cameras and miscellaneous equipment. Its client base included amateur and professional photographers as well as specialist medical and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

This photograph is part of the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005 after the manufacturing plant at Coburg had closed down the year before.

Description of Content

View looking west of building under construction. A two-storey structure can be seen in the centre of the photograph with two single-storey wings where aluminium framed facades are being completed. The roof and brick walls of the building appear to have been completed while the interior is being fitted out. A tower hoist and a jib crane are visible in the background, while building rubble lies in the foreground.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph printed on light weight paper, landscape format.

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