Company History

1892

Mr John Fraser and Mr Thomas Jenkinson, formerly secretary of Australasian Typographical Union become partners in Fraser & Jenkinson Printers and Publishers. The office was located in Bourke Street, Melbourne. Fraser & Jenkinson Pty Ltd expands into 341-345 Queen Street Melbourne.. At this time, Fraser & Jenkinson is renowned as a printer and publisher of many of Australia’s early book titles and post cards.

1900's - 1920's

Fraser & Jenkinson Pty Ltd expands into 341 Queen Street Melbourne (pictured left). At this time, Fraser & Jenkinson is renowned as a printer and publisher of many of Australia’s early book titles and post cards. The anti-conscription campaign by the Australian Labor movement renders Fraser & Jenkinson ‘in trouble’ and they are both summoned for aiding and abetting the ‘Red Flag Flying’ by printing a dodger referring to ‘Red Flag Day’. They are defended by Maurice Blackburn. Fraser is discharged and Jenkinson given a bond with costs of eight guineas. Leaflet bearing a verse by W.R. Winspear and a cartoon by Claude Marquet, featuring an image a deeply worried woman casting a ‘Yes’ vote while Billy Hughes, Australia’s Labor Prime Minister and supporter of conscription, looks on gleefully. It was printed by Fraser & Jenkinson in Melbourne, 1917 and authorised by J. Curtin, Secretary for the ‘National Executive’.

1930's & 1940's

By the 1930s, Fraser & Jenkinson were operating out of several premises at 341–345 Queen Street. A major source of the firm’s printing work in the years following WWII came from the unions based in the Victorian Trades Hall, located on the corner of Victoria and Lygon Streets. The firm had a long history of involvement with the Left, having printed numerous anti-conscription leaflets during the First World War, and published works such as Frank Anstey’s Red Europe (1919) George Lansbury’s Red Russia in 1920 (1920), and The New Communist Manifesto (1919). At the end of the Second World War, the firm was being managed by Arthur Fraser, a dedicated Labor Party supporter who unsuccessfully stood for State Parliament in 1945.

1950's

Fraser & Jenkinson printed copies of Frank Hardy’s controversial book “Power without Glory”. These copies are believed to be an early underground copy of the novel. Frank Hardy was on trial for criminal libel, and the case was prominent in the press. The Fraser family feared serious legal repercussions, including loss of the business, should Fraser & Jenkinson be found to be associated with the printing of the novel so some forty volumes were destroyed leaving one copy retained by the family. This copy was donated to the State Library of Victoria for reference purposes.

1965

The Hutchinson family acquires Fraser & Jenkinson Pty Ltd from Fraser & Jenkinson families. The company now lists many of Australia’s largest companies as clients. These include all the major banks and many Fortune 500 businesses.

1990

The Moio family acquires Fraser and Jenkinson from the Hutchinson family & later begin trading under the name “Print Media Group” (PMG). PMG has gone on to acquire a number of printing companies across most states of Australia.