Pelaco
 The heritage listed sign above Pelaco's former factory in Richmond, Victoria | |
| Pelaco | |
| Company type | Private company |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1910s |
Pelaco was an Australian clothing manufacturer based in Melbourne. Pelaco is best known for its men's shirts. The Pelaco sign over its former factory in Richmond is a Heritage Victoria listed landmark.
Foundation
[edit]The Pelaco brand was founded in the 1910s by James Kerr Pearson (born 31 July 1881 in Glasgow, Scotland — died 2 October 1950 in Richmond, Victoria) and James Lindsay Gordon Law (born 21 January 1881 in Ballarat, Victoria — died 18 February 1963, Fitzroy, Victoria). The company name came from the first two letters of its owners' surnames.[2]
Products
[edit]From its inception, Pelaco's main product has been men's shirts.[2][3]
Industrial relations
[edit]The Pelaco company under Lindsay Law has been described as innovative in its approach to industrial relations.
Saturday morning work was discontinued in its predecessor business in 1908.[3] The company management appointed an "industrial relations officer" to mediate with employees in 1928.[3] Pelaco was one of the first companies in Australia to employ an industrial psychologist.[2] Lindsay Law came into conflict with unions and arbitration courts over the issues of piecework wages and child labour.[2]
Business head office and factories
[edit]In 1922, the company moved its head office and factory from elsewhere in Richmond to Goodwood Street, Richmond.[3] The "Pelaco" neon sign over the Goodwood Street factory was erected in 1939.[4] At the company's peak in the 1950s, it had ten factories across Australia.[3]
Cultural references
[edit]Australian football player Royce Hart was recruited to Richmond Football Club from Tasmanian team Clarence Football Club with the promise of "a new suit and six shirts".[5] The "six shirts" were "half a dozen Pelacos".[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Pelaco International Pty Ltd". Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d Frances, Raelene (2005). "Law, James Lindsay Gordon (1881–1963)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Mcleod, Amanda (25 February 2010). "Pelaco". eMelborne. School of Historical Studies, University of Melbourne. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1149". Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure. Government of Victoria. 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ McNicol, Adam (2013). "Legend: Royce Hart". Australian Football League. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ Otto, Kristin (2011). Yarra: The History of Melbourne's Murky River. Text Publishing. ISBN 9781921776854. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
