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.Typewritten letter in black ink on cream paper with green and black letterhead of ‘Commonwealth Serum Laboratories’, marketing influenza vaccines to businesses for their employees.COMMONWEALTH SERUM LABORATORIES 45 POPLAR ROAD, PARKVILLE, N.2. VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS ‘SERUMS’ MELBOURNE / TELEPHONE 38-2101 (5 LINES), 38-5136 (5 LINES) ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO DIRECTOR IN REPLY PLEASE QUOTE 63/909 Dear Sir, INFLUENZA VIRUS VACCINE Each year more and more business houses are organising immunisation campaigns against influenza for their staff. This, we feel is a wise precaution as influenza is not selective and absenteeism amongst your work force because of influenza could seriously hinder the operations of your company. To combat epidemic influenza, C.S.L. have produced Influenza Virus Vaccine (Polyvalent) which is effective against the types and strains of influenza virus which are likely to cause the disease this winter. We believe that immunization against influenza should be carried out between February and April (before the onset of winter) and suggest that you discuss the matter with your Medical Officer as soon as possible so that he can advise you on the needs of your organization. Ordering: Having decided on your influenza vaccine requirements, it is then only necessary to place your order, quoting your doctor’s name, by simply contacting the C.S.L. State Sales Branch in your capital city. Yours faithfully, COMMONWEALTH SERUM LABORATORIES. P.S. We have supplies of attractive coloured notice board posters inviting the staff to support the campaign arranged for their benefit. Should you decide on a campaign, these posters are available on request from the C.S.L. State Sales Branch in your capital city, or if you have any difficulty, direct from us at Parkville.business, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, vaccination, flu vaccination, public health, public health history, epidemiology, influenza, vaccination history

Item relates to Reginald Charles ALLARDICE NO 418577 RAAF. Refer Cat No 3627.5 for his service history.Officers medical record card RAF form I 417, blue folded Royal Air Force re RC ALLARDICE No Aus/418577. Inside written in blue pen details re nature and number of vaccinations.On front “ALLARDICE REGINALD CHARLES AUS/418577”vaccinations, medical, officer

Faded off-white card detailing medical history for 1935. Card is 4 sided and was originally folded for carrying.Details filled out in ink. Name, address, next of kin, dob, date of joining co., previous employer, previous medical history, smallpox vaccination. Stamp of ship "ANDANIA". Marked as low fitness rating 7/11/1935.charles page, seaman

Certicate of Successful Vaccination (Duplicate) , birth registered in 187? , Eaglehawk. Issued re Elizabeth Jane (Hall??). Signed by Public Vaccinator for the District (John Shaw??).document, certificate, vaccination

A.M.F. Soldier's Pay Book for F.C. Sweeney 14/3/41 to 30/10/41. Includes rates of pay, next of kin, vaccinations, two passport type photos on the inner back coverW. H. Robinson Photo Bendigomilitary, world war 2, soldiers pay book

Document. Certificate of Successful Vaccination of Gertrude Eva Perry April 25th 1917 in Borough of Eaglehawk. Addressed to Mr. H. L. Perry, Brown St., California Gully.organization, government, health, gertrude perry collection, certificate of vaccination gertrude eva perry, perry mr. h l

Documents. (a) Copy of Certificate of Marriage - Emily's parents: Edgar Nankivell and Emmaline Adelaide Osterfield, Married at Eaglehawk Methodist Church 1916. (b) Copy of Certificate of Marriage-Leslie Nicholas Grylls Thomas and Emily Isabel Nankivell 1949. (c); Copy of & 1 envelope from the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Stamp and postmark - Eaglehawk. Mr. E Nankivell Campbells Forest. (d): Certificate of successful vaccination. Certificate of Fitness notice to parents. Certificate of Unsusceptibilty Health Act 1915.document, names of bendigo pioneers, emily isabel thomas (nee) nankivell

Two small booklets entitled 'Small Pox and Vaccination' by Dr. Richard Jones. (undated). 2. A photocopy of a letter relating to a list of Typhoid cases , from J. Colville Esq., Secretary to the Board of Healthorganization, government, health, small pox, typhoid, richard jones, j. colville, board of health

A Malmsbury Cemetery Receipt for the Interment of a Child - 18/01/1866. b - Receipt for Trimming and lining of a Coffin. - 18/01/1866. c - Certificate of Vaccination for William John, Son of Charles Lea of Green Hill. - 2/11/1872.person, receipts, cemetery, lea family documents, malmsbury cemetery receipt for the interment of a child, receipt for trimming and lining of a coffin , certificate of vaccination, mr lea, h brailey, william henry lea, w lasslett, edward davy, william john lea, charles lea

Certificate of Vaccination for Albert James Lea aged 8 months. Child of Charles Lea in the Parish of Milloo. Public Vaccinator for the District of Rochester.person, certificate, vaccination certificate, lea family documents, certificate of successful vaccination, albert james lea, charles lea

Certificate of Vaccination for Thomas Lea aged 6 months. Child of Charles Lea in Malmsbury. Public Vaccination for the District of Malmsbury.person, certificate, vaccination certificate, lea family documents, certificate of succesul vaccination, thomas lea, charles lea

Refers to the service of Edgar James William Foster. NR.911335 British Army.This is a pocket sized booklet. It is made of brown buckram for the cover. Inside are paper pages printed in black ink. The covers have small pockets on the inside. The pages cover service history of soldier, vaccinations, trades etc. In the rear pocket is a small cricifix cross made out of grass/flax.Lots of hand written entries from various officers.ww2, british army