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.

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