Summary

Colour photograph of former Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd factory buildings in Abbotsford, circa 1980s. The metal rooves of various buildings are shown, including a chimney with water tank on top. The word 'Kodak' can still be seen on one of the chimneys.

Part of a collection of research material and artefacts assembled by former Kodak Australasia employee Nigel Beale while he was writing Kodak's company history in the 1980s.

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, educational, defence, scientific and graphic art professionals who used photography, x-ray and other imaging techniques.

Description of Content

A view over the rooves of several brick factory buildings with corrugated iron rooves, some rusted. In the centre of the image are two large chimney stacks, the one on the right has KODAK written down its length. There is also a chimney with a water tank on the roof of a building at left, and another water tank at far right. Beyond this the river and parkland can be seen.

Physical Description

A colour landscape format photograph with glue and paper adhered to the top centre of the image, causing some discolouration.

Significance

This item, showing the site of the former Kodak factory in Abbotsford, enhances our understanding of the changing nature of the photographic manufacturing in Melbourne, and also traces the changes in industrial sites in inner Melbourne over the twentieth century. This is an important theme for Melbourne, where de-industrialisation has changed the shape and culture of the city in a multitude of ways since the decline of local industry in the late-twentieth century. That Kodak staff took this photograph of its former premises twenty years after it relocated, shows that the company was also interested in its heritage.

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