Summary

Colour instant photograph of secretary Trish Kilpatrick typing at a desk in an office in Building 15, 'Camera, Reels and Sundries' Department, at Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd's factory in Coburg, early 1980s.

Trish Kilpatrick, later Trish Lobb, was a Kodak employee who worked with the company from 1964 until 1992. She worked in Building 15 in 'Camera, Reels and Sundries' from 1964 to 1986, first on the factory floor and later as a secretary. She subsequently worked as a secretary in various other manufacturing departments: Building 4, 'Roll Film Finishing' from 1986 to 1989, and then in Building 3, 'Sensitizing' from 1989 to 1992. She also worked as Executive Secretary on occasions to the General Manager, Manufacturing, Mr John Mitcham.

This photograph is the Kodak version of Polaroid instant photograph. Kodak was successfuly sued by the Polaroid company and had to withdraw their instant photograph product from the market as it infringed the Polaroid patent for instant photograph design and technology.

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

Woman in a workspace, sitting at a desk typing on a blue typewriter, with a stack of papers next to her. Behind her is other office furniture. She is wearing a white top and glasses. A poster on the wall to her left reads 'You want it when?'

Physical Description

Colour photograph, square with white border and rounded corners. The back is black plastic and is thick at the top and bottom borders.

Significance

This photograph highlights the history of Kodak in Australia and its workforce, in particular the female office workers.

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