Thomas Baker
Thomas Baker (1854–1928) made a fortune as a photographic manufacturer in Australia and gave much of his wealth away.
History
Kodak Australasia's long history stretches back over 140 years to the 1880s. Discover the entrepreneurs who founded Kodak’s photographic manufacturing and marketing operations in Australia.
Alice Baker
Alice Baker, nee Shaw (1855–1935) was a prominent Melburnian, a philanthropist and a champion of women’s causes.
John Joseph Rouse
John Joseph (JJ) Rouse (1862–1938) made a name for himself as a hugely successful photographic retailer and a generous philanthropist.
Edgar Rouse
Edgar Rouse (1894–1974) was born at Queenscliffe, his family’s home in Sydney, to parents John Joseph ‘JJ’ Rouse, Kodak managing director, and Anna Rouse, née Elsdon.
Thomas Baker’s Photographic Plates
It is 1884, and three people are hard at work in the darkened, underground cellar of their home by the Yarra River in Abbotsford, Melbourne, making photographic plates.
Baker & Rouse
In 1887 Thomas Baker joined with photographic salesman John Joseph (JJ) Rouse to form a new business named Baker & Rouse.
Kodak in Australia
In 1908, 24 years after Thomas Baker made his first dry plates in his home cellar, the company he co-owned with JJ Rouse, known as Baker & Rouse Pty Ltd, merged with George Eastman‘s American based company, Eastman Kodak Company, to become Australian Kodak Limited.