Pelaco Neon Sign, Richmond
Within visual distance of Audrey, another iconic Melbourne neon sign which depicts a girl skipping a rope, is the massive Pelaco neon sign. In 1939, "Pelacograms", the in-house journal of the Pelaco shirt manufacturing company, announced the erection of a large neon sign atop their building at 21-31 Goodwood Street on Richmond Hill. It survives today, and largest and close to the oldest exstant neon sign in Victoria. The sign still dominates the suburb of Richmond, and its 19th century lanes and cottages where many of Pelaco's employees used to live.
The sign survived a dispute between the current owner of the building and the then Claude Neon Company. The building's owner opposed the sign's listing on the Victorian Heritage Register but withdrew its objection after Claude Neon pointed out they retained ownership of the sign through an original lease comtract.
Melbourne-based rockabilly group, The Pelaco Brothers (1974 75), were named after the sign. The Pelaco sign is visible in many scenes of the 1987 film Dogs In Space. High on a building on Richmond Hill, it can be seen from many suburbs away. Although originally being designed as a neon sign, it is no longer lit at night.
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) and James Lindsay Gordon Law (born 21 January 1881 in Ballarat, Victoria died 18 February 1963, Fitzroy). The company name came from the first two letters of its owners' surnames. From its inception, Pelaco's main product has been men's shirts.
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. The company management appointed an "industrial relations officer" to mediate with employees in 1928. Pelaco was one of the first companies in Australia to employ an industrial psychologist. Lindsay Law came into conflict with unions and arbitration courts over the issues of piecework wages and child labour. Pelaco reached the height of its importance in 1951 when it dominated the Australian market. Pelaco was a pioneer in the shirt making industry in Australia and an innovator in the adoption of mass production methods and labour relations in the textiles and clothing industry.
In 1922 the company established its head office in a factory in Goodwood Street, Richmond. At the company's peak it had ten factories across Australia. The former Pelaco building now houses numerous businesses including radio stations Gold 104.3 and KIIS 101.1, Madman Entertainment and media production company Fremantle Media and Authentic Entertainment.
