Historical information

Fred Walker 1884 – 1935 was an Australian businessman and founder of Fred Walker & Co. first in Hong Kong, then in Melbourne as the Fred Walker Company. He also set up Kraft Walker Cheese Co. in partnership with American businessman James L. Kraft in 1926, to market Kraft's patented method of processing cheese in Australia.
Fred Walker & Co. is best known for creating Vegemite, a yeast extract-based food spread and Australian cultural icon. Kraft Walker Cheese Co. Is best known for manufacturing a cheese known as Red Coon around 1931, which later became known as Coon cheese.
He founded the Fred Walker Company at 54 William Street and later moving to Flinders Street in 1911. This company specialised in canned foods, especially dairy products, exporting them to Asia. It manufactured Red Feather canned foods including butter and cheese from around 1910. He also went on to created Cresco Food Co. for his younger brother, which was the first factory to manufacture "flaked food" or dehydrated food products in Australia.

Significance

A significant item that catalogues the start of dehydrated food production and sale in Australia was initiated by an Australian businessman and well-known entrepreneur. The history of Fred Walker gives insight into how many food brands in Australia now that we take for granted had his involvement in their early beginnings.

Physical description

Large cylindrical tin with push on lid, painted label on the sides in maroon, black gold and dark fawn colours with text.

Inscriptions & markings

Palm Flaked Rice manufactured by the Cresco Co. Limited Melbourne Australia