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Actual production of cameras with a very high local content continued until the first flashcube range of Instamatics, but appears to have become an assembly only operation from early 1970 onwards, using parts imported from the U.K.
The profit margin of even assembly had become so small by 1977 that it was no longer economically viable and local production began to be phased out. The last camera assembled in Australia came off the Melbourne production line in July 1982.This 110 sized camera was based on an up-right design of Kodak Ltd. (U.K),known as the Kodak Pocket A-1.In Australia, and later in England too it was to be known as the Brownie Camera.
At the time this article was researched, and still in many circles today, this Brownie is considered to be the last to bear the famous name. But since then, Kodak Brasileira Comercio e Industria Ltda (Kodak Brazil for short) has resurreected the name for a snappy little red and silver 110,the Brownie II.
There are only two uniquely Australian produced Kodaks I know of, and neither appears in the rather sketchy Kodak production records of the period.
They are a two tone black and grey version of both the Brownie Starflash , and the Brownie Starmite II.
The Starflash was produced in eight known colour variations, but the black and grey has only ever been sighted in Australia. The Starmite II is the only colour variation known. The only explanation for these two oddballs came from a number of ex Kodak production staff I spoke to while researching this article. Two of them told me the black and grey were probably mistakes; that all black Brownie Starlet parts ,which in some cases were interchangeable, found their way onto the production lines for the other two types.
Another explanation from a former employee was that some cameras had been sent in for repair, and at the time the only parts available were those of a different colour, and so they were used to effect the repair.
Either explanation is plausible, and in the absence of official records must be pragmatically considered. Both variations are extremely rare but I have seen both at yard sales here in Australia in original boxes, and have seen 3 or 4 of each over the years, so they are definitely out there.
In all other respects, cameras made or assembled down under were to all intents and purposes the same as the cameras produced the world over by various Kodak plants.
There are no official records of camera models that actually carried the Kodak(Australasia) Pty. Ltd. identification, but from 30 odd years of collecting and observation-and from the memories of former Kodak employees who actually made them- the following list has been compiled.
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