Summary
Colour photograph of a group of men standing, at the reception at the official opening of the Kodak factory complex at Coburg, 14 April 1961.
Second from the left is Eric Merton, Techincal Services Officer based at the Latrobe St. Kodak offices. Third from the left is John Reid, Sales Manager of Commercial Markets Division of Kodak, also based at the Latrobe St. offices. In the distance, far left, is Kodak Australasia Company Secretary, Joe Page.
Construction of the Kodak factory complex in Coburg began in 1957 on 23 hectares of former farmland. Since 1908, Kodak had been operating from the factory in Abbotsford and had gradually outgrown the premises. The Abbotsford factory remained operational while the Coburg plant was being built until it closed in1966. Architect Harry Norris of H A & F L Norris & Associates, created the design for the new factory and individual buildings for the manufacture of silver halide photographic products. The building contract was awarded to Lewis Constructions Pty Ltd. The still uncompleted complex was officially opened on 14 April 1961 by the Prime Minister, Robert G. Menzies with Dr. A Chapman, President of Eastman Kodak Company, in attendance. The complex was the national headquarters of Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd.
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, when the Melbourne manufacturing plant at Coburg closed down.
Description of Content
The photograph focuses on a group of five men standing with drinks in their hands at a reception. Three men are visible behind this group. Four of the men are wearing red and yellow name tags.The tall man, second from the left and the man standing next to him on his left, are facing the camera directly.
Physical Description
Colour photograph, printed on medium weight paper with a white border, landscape format.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Ms. Kate Metcalf - Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2005
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Acknowledgement
Courtesy of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd.
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Place & Date Depicted
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Organisation Depicted
Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Elizabeth Street, Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 APr 1961
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Photographer
Press, Public Relations, Photographers, Stuart Penberthy Pty.Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
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Person Depicted
Mr Joe Page - Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
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Person Depicted
Mr Eric Merton - Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Apr 1961
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Person Depicted
Mr John Reid - Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Apr 1961
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Individuals Identified
Page, Joe; Merton, Eric; Reid, John
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Format
Photograph, Colour
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Inscriptions
Back, handwritten, pencil: 'C28'
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Classification
Manufacturing & industry, Photographic products, Opening events
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
128 mm (Width), 90 mm (Height)
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References
Beale, N, The History of Kodak in Australia, Coburg, no date. [Link 1] "A Brief Process Based Site History, Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Coburg Plant" Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2007 Pamphlet, "Milestones in the History of Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd", Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., 1985 Leggio, Angeletta "A History of Australia's Kodak Manufacturing Plant", Topics in Photographic Preservation, Volume Twelve, 2007
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Keywords
Factories, Functions, Manufacturing Plants, Photography, Receptions, Making History - Kodak Collection