Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Letter from Myer (Melbourne) Limited to William Blake. The letter confirms and details of a meeting held to discuss business arrangements between Kathryn Knitwear and Myer. Due to the lack of signatory, it is likely there was originally additional pages that have been lost. It is typewritten in blue ink on white paper, with smudges and pen marks evident.MYER (MELBOURNE) LIMITED. 314-336 Bourke Street, Melbourne C.1. 66 111 July 10, 1967 Mr. William Blake Kathryn Knitwear. P.O. Box 49. BROADMEADOWS Vic. Dear Mr. Blake. This is to confirm and itemize details of the discussion held in my office on Monday, July 10, at which time the following points were discussed: - 1. Action to be taken on:- (a) Regular Kathryn range. (b) Special lines to be developed under the Kathryn label confined to Myers stores. These to fit into the regular Kathryn price fields. (c) Special price lines to be developed exclusively for Myers stores, also that for these price lines the regular Kathryn quality to be maintained. With regard to Items A and B of the above, it was decided that purchases were to be taken out by departments on regular Kathryn merchandise for the financial year August 1, 1966 to July 31, 1967, and targets were to be set for each department for the same period for 1967-1968. 2. Specific items were to be nominated that are to be made under Item 1(b), eg: angoras, knits, dresses, etc. these items to be quickly collated by Mr C. Rivers.business, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, myer, myer emporium, myer (melbourne)

Envelope containing papers and cards from Taxation Office and Myer. 2 copies of tax papers in the name Eileen Wilson who was an employee of Myer (Melbourne) Limited. 2 copies of Employee's Copy of Victorian Government Pensioners in the name of K A Wilson. 2 small cards with assessment numbers on them. Receipt from Alfred Nott Pty. Ltd. Optometrists & Dispensing Opticians dated 13/7/65 for 7 shillings & 6 pence in the name Miss Wilson. Papers in a white envelope addressed to M/S K. A. Wilson Flat 2 95 Grey St. St. Kilda S. 2. It has a return address: State Superannuation Board Treasury Gardens Melbourne, C.2person, individual, foster & wilson collection, foster & wilson collection, k a wilson, eileen wilson, myer (melbourne) limited, alfred nott pty. ltd., state superannuation board

One of the plans referred to in the application by Eastland Shopping Centre, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Myer Emporium Limited.|Upper floor plan and lower level traffic plan. Application No 3, Ringwood Planning Scheme 1960.|Architects: Tompkins, Shaw & Evans|Traffic Engineers: Len T Frazer and AssociatesTwo copies of plans for the Ringwood Shopping Centre, comprising; 1. Upper floor plan; 2. Lower level traffic level; Buff coloured heavy paper with black printing. Application No 3, Ringwood Planning Scheme. Shopping Centre at Ringwood design for developmetn submitted by EASTLAND SHOPPING CENTRE PTY.LTD a wholly owned subsidiary of THE MYER EMPORIUM LIMITED Architects: Tomkins, Shaw and Evans Taffic Engineers: Len T. Frazer & Assocs

''It's dangerous to allow yourself to be loved'' This Theatrical adaptation of the ''Song of Solomon'' will challenge your perception of love. Cost at the door: $19.90 Full / $17 Friends and $12 Concession. Directed by Robert Draffin Designed by Lloyd James Cast : Mary Sitarenos , Paul English , Kerry Armstrong , Margaret Mills , Deidre Rubenstien. Musician : Chris Young .Music by Tyrone Landau and Chris YoungIt was played as a limited three week performance. It was sponsored by the Sidney Myer Fund, SBS 1224, Arts Victoria and Australian Council for the Arts.coloured flyersong of songs, athenaeum theatre, kerry armstrong

The Myer Emporium has had a history of over 100 years, and was first started by Sidney Myer trading his wares from door to door.Catalogue representing the store's latest goods to the purchaser, ranging from fashion, house furniture, garden and small farm equipment, kitchen ware, books, typewriters, childrens wear, shoes, men's wear, etc.The Myer Emporium Limited, Spring and Summer Catalogue, 1952books, catalogues

Rose Series postcard No. P 1083, titled "Bourke Street Melbourne", showing a busy scene outside Buckley & Nunn Limited store and the Myer Emporium. In the view are two double-decker buses, two single-decker buses in the wartime livery with white mudguards and white rear panels. one horse-drawn cart is on the opposite of the road. There is a gas producer pack on the back of the car parked on the left-hand side of the photograph. Also in the view are signs for London Stores.Yields information about Bourke St early 1940s.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.tramways, bourke st, buses, world war ii, td5c class, ts8c class, mmtb buses