Kitchen candles

Just in case you've missed the excitement of the Society's fabulous acquisition of photographs and artefacts from Symex (formerly Kitchens), they are on display upstairs at the Port Melbourne Town Hall, 333 Bay St, Port Melbourne. (enter via Spring St south)
The very large photographs show not only Kitchens but the wider context of Dunlops, the Port Melbourne Football ground and other local landmarks. There is a photographic array of former proprietors of the firm over generations, showing changing fashions in facial hair, which is instructive. The generous donation of their display case has made possible the fine display of evocative products from an earlier age. My favourite is a  photograph, featured in the Society's calendar a few years back, showing the industrial production of candles on a huge scale.

Symex is the last of Port Melbourne's major industries and employers to close to make way for residential development.

25 April 2013
Pat Grainger's piece on the history of Kitchen and Sons, published in the Society's newsletter, is available here.