Summary

Black and white photograph depicting Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd office staff from the Kodak House branch in Collins Street in front of the building and leaning out of the windows during celebrations in 1945.

The photograph's inscription indicates it was taken on VE (Victory in Europe) Day, 8 May 1945, but it was actually printed in the afternoon edition of the Herald on 15 August 1945, Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day, under the heading 'Confetti Showers Upon City's Roistering Crowds'. Celebrations for VE Day (8 May 1945) in Melbourne were much more muted, as the war was still continuing. For instance, The Herald in Melbourne reported on 9 May, under the heading 'Churches Crowded; City Deserted by Flag-Bedecked', that 'a large crowd attended the Lord Mayor's Victory-in-Europe thanksgiving service at the Shrine', but 'Melbourne celebrated its V.E. holiday with few visible signs of rejoicing, as if remembering that the war is only half won and that so many are still absent, on service or captive.' A photograph showed a large but staid crowd at the Shrine. Photos of VE Day in Melbourne printed in The Argus did include one which showed how 'Office girls on the block threw papers and streamers from their windows in a vain attempt to start some revelry last evening, but the majority of workers buttoned up their coats and hurried home.'

Part of a group of black and white photographs, a farewell card and letter that were sent to David Collyer at Kodak Coburg factory from Edna McKenna (nee Sheeran) on 12 June 1997. The other photographs depict a staff visit to see HMS King George V when it was docked at Melbourne, Dec 1945. Social activities including a tennis day, a pre-wedding dinner for one of the staff members (menu included) and a farewell dinner for E.J. Van de Velde (farewell card included).

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.

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.

Description of Content

A group of women standing in the doorway of a building. More people can be seen in the windows of the above floors. Paper is falling from the sky in celebration. It litters the pavement and road in front of the building.

Physical Description

Black and white silver gelatin photograph, portrait format.

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