Summary
Colour photograph of Prime Minister Robert Menzies with Kodak Australasia executives and guests at the reception at the official opening of the Kodak factory complex at Coburg, 14 April 1961.
Far left, Kodak Australasia Company Secretary, Joe Page, is standing talking to someone. Far right, former Chief Managing Director and Chairman of Kodak, Edgar Rouse is talking with a small group of people.
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 features a group of men and women standing and talking in a reception area. Prime Minister Robert Menzies is at the centre of the image, talking to a small group of people. A woman in a red dress and mink stole is standing opposite Menzies. Far left, two men are conversing. Far right, another group of men are standing and talking, prominent is a man with dark glasses, There are orange chairs and tables with white tablecloths and floral centrepieces positioned around the room.
Physical Description
Colour photograph, printed on medium weight paper with a white border, landscape format.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Donation from Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Ms. Kate Metcalf - Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2005
-
Acknowledgement
Courtesy of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd.
-
Place & Date Depicted
-
Organisation Depicted
Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
-
Photographer
Press, Public Relations, Photographers, Stuart Penberthy Pty.Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
-
Person Depicted
Prime Minister Robert G. Menzies, Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
-
Person Depicted
Mr Joe Page - Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 2010
-
Person Depicted
Mr Edgar J. Rouse - Kodak (Australasia) Pty. Ltd., Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 14 Apr 1961
-
Individuals Identified
MENZIES, ROBERT GORDON; Page, Joe; Rouse, Edgar
-
Format
Photograph, Colour
-
Inscriptions
Back, handwritten, pencil: 'C35'
-
Classification
Manufacturing & industry, Photographic products, Opening events
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Image Dimensions - Photograph
128 mm (Width), 90 mm (Height)
-
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
-
Keywords
Factories, Functions, Manufacturing Plants, Photography, Prime Ministers, Receptions, Making History - Kodak Collection