Amcor - The Australian Paper Manufacturing Company

Main Image

Cnr Upper Heidelberg Road and The Chandler Highway, Fairfield

Samuel Ramsden, a Yorkshire man, founded first paper mill in Victoria on the banks of the Yarra River. This was the Australian Paper and Pulp Company which for most of its history was called The Australian Paper Manufacturers Ltd. until it changed its name in 1986 to Amcor.

In 1919 the company opened its mill on the corner of Upper Heidelberg Road and The Chandler Highway in Fairfield and remains there today. The land was originally a large Yarra bank property named ‘Woodlands’ but it would soon become the largest industrial complex in the area but its fortunes over the years have been a rollercoaster ride.

The mill expanded during the 1930s with a 15-ton turbo electric generator bought in 1932 and transported in two halves from Victoria Dock to Fairfield.  This was a huge technological advance for the mill as the generator was one of the first of its kind to be used in private industry in Australia.  It also established an early form of household recycling with a call to households to sponsor charities to collect waste paper and sell it to the A.P.M. for recycling into cardboard.  In 1937 the company floated £1,000,000 of shares to finance the mill extensions.  The announcement made in the following year by the managing director Sir Herbert Gepp of the imminent closure of the Melbourne Mill near Princes Bridge, caused a sensation among employees facing dismissal.

Strikes in the 1940s and 50s caused disruption to business at the mill and coupled with imported paper from overseas after WWII the company downsized laying off 250 mill hands, 50 office staff and 23 chemists over one week period in 195?

The company takes pride in supporting staff innovation. In 1955 two employees Jack Simpson and William 'Jack' Illingworth received a cheque for £1000 for their innovation to prevent paper waste by creasing at the beginning of roll. This was the largest sum of incentive money awarded to staff.

A. P. M. Forests. Pty. Ltd (1993). Australian Paper Manufacturers. Melbourne (Vic.)
“The History of Amcor – Our Origins” [Online]. Amcor.  WWW Resource, Retrieved 1/9/2006, at: http://www.amcor.com/Default.aspx?id=557

Lemon, Andrew. (1983). The Northcote Side of the River. North Melbourne (Vic.): Hargreen.

TUROB ELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR FAIRFIELD. (1932, January, 29). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922-1939). P. 3.

IRONWORKERS’ CLAIMS: ROLLING MILLS MAY BE CLOSED IF DEMANDS NOT MET. (1941, March, 27). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860-1954), p.1.

POLICE SENT OUT TO PAPER MILL. (1953, August, 3). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1956), p. 7.
BEHIND THE SCENES IN INDUSTRY NO. 65. (1939, November, 18). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1956). P.15 supplement.

AN IDEA EARNED THEM 1000 POUNDS. (1955, May, 5). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1956), p.9.

PAPER COMPANY REDUCING STAFF. (1952, November, 28). Advocate (Burnie, Tas. : 1890-1954), p.4.

EMPLOYEES ALARMED. PAPER MILLS CLOSING. (1938, August, 25). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848-1956), p.3.

FINANCE FOR PAPER PULP INDUSTRY. (1937, April, 30). The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933-1954), p. 6.

 

Further reading:
Sinclair, E. K., The Spreading Tree : a history of A. P. M. and Amcor 1844-1989.

Rupp, Otto. Reminiscences [unpublished manuscript MS BOX 2684/4]. State Library of Victoria (Melbourne).

There are images held by the National Library of Australia (TROVE)  

Image of Australian Paper Mills from across the Yarra River

Australian Paper Mills from across the Yarra River [LHRN1756]

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Images of Australian Paper Mills viewed from Heidelberg Road

Australian Paper Mills viewed from Heidelberg Road [LHRN1756-2]

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Image of Silo at Australian Paper Mills

Silo at Australian Paper Mills. [LHRN1756-3]

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Image of Australian Paper Mills viewed from Heidelberg Road

Australian Paper Mills viewed from Heidelberg Road [LHRN1756-4]

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Image of Tower at the Paper Mill

Tower at the Paper Mill. [LHRN1816]

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Image of Woodlands farm (formerly Knockando) circa 1919

Woodlands farm (formerly Knockando) circa 1919. [LHRN1818]

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Image of Alphington, the paper mill and Chandler Highway

Alphington, the paper mill and Chandler Highway [LHRN576]

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Image of The paper mill from the air

The paper mill from the air. [LHRN578]

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Image of Australian Paper Mills during the 1930s

Australian Paper Mills during the 1930s [LHRN1376]

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Image of Australian Paper Mills 1964

Australian Paper Mills 1964 [LHRN1377]

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Image of The paper mill during the great flood of 1930

The paper mill during the great flood of 1930. [LHRN1378]

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Image of the Paper Mill during the Royal Visit 1954

Paper Mill during the Royal Visit 1954. [LHRN1864]

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Image of sign welcoming the Queen outside Australian Paper Mills

Sign welcoming the Queen outside Australian Paper Mills. [LHRN1866]

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Image of Paper Mills fire truck

Paper Mills fire truck. [LHRN1867]

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Image of parade outside the Paper Mills for Queens visit 1954

Parade outside the Paper Mills for Queens visit 1954. [LHRN1868]

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Image of machinery inside paper mill

Machinery inside paper mill. [LHRN1869]

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Image of Advert for the Paper Mill

Advert for the Paper Mill [LHRN1691-1]

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Image of Advert for the Paper Mill

Advert for the Paper Mill [LHRN1691-2]

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Image of the offices within the Australian Paper Manufacturing Company

Offices within the Australian Paper Manufacturing Company. [LHRN1692]

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Image of Entrance to the Paper Mill

Entrance to the Paper Mill. [LHRN1693]

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Image of Collecting paper

Collecting paper [LHRN1694]

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Image of Vats inside the factory.

Vats inside the factory. [LHRN1695]

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Image of Petrol pump inside the mill

Petrol pump inside the mill. [LHRN1697]

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Image of Choir preparing for the Royal Visit 1954. Probably part of the Australian Paper Mills stand

Choir preparing for the Royal Visit 1954. Probably part of the Australian Paper Mills stand. [LHRN1885]

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Image of Road works in Grange Road. Construction of railway line to the paper mills.

Road works in Grange Road. Construction of railway line to the paper mills. [LHRN1886-1]

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Image of Road works in Grange Road. Construction of railway line to the paper mills.

Road works in Grange Road. Construction of railway line to the paper mills. [LHRN1886-2]

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Image of Australian Paper Mills picnic 1938

Australian Paper Mills picnic 1938 [LHRN1696]

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Image of River Pump House Alphington Paper Mill

River Pump House Alphington Paper Mill (LHRN4474)

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Image of Australian paper Mill - construction work

Australian paper Mill - construction work [LHRN4493]

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Image of Mixing vats Alphington Paper Mills

Mixing vats Alphington Paper Mills (LHRN4496)

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Image of Water outlet on the Yarra River Alphington Paper Mill

Water outlet on the Yarra River Alphington Paper Mill (LHRN4491)

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Image of Water reclamation tanks in use Alphington Paper Mill

Water reclamation tanks in use Alphington Paper Mill (LHRN449)

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Image of Factory buildings and Chandler Highway Bridge Alphington Paper Mills

Factory buildings and Chandler Highway Bridge Alphington Paper Mills (LHRN4489)

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Image of Water tank Alphington Paper Mil

Water tank Alphington Paper Mill (LHRN4487)

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