Exchange Printers Information

Exchange Printers is and has been an important part of Mount Gambier's history. The many staff have all contributed to helping it become an iconic business in Mount Gambier. The camaraderie existing among the staff is a proud record. Of the 371 employees who over the years have helped the Company achieve its goals the average length of service is outstanding with some in excess of 20, 30, 40 and 50 years. In 1914 Alf Clark purchased the business known as The Exchange Printing Works, a printing business which also published a weekly free paper. Before the advent of mechanical typesetting it was tediously handset. Every single letter of type was assembled in a composing stick and the pages of the paper were locked in a chase to be printed. After printing, all the single pieces of type had to be distributed back into their respective boxes to be used again. A labour intensive operation. After leaving school Alf Clark joined Mount Gambier's second newspaper, 'The South Eastern Star', and assisted in the first issue in October, 1877. He remained with 'The Star' for many years, managing the business for Mr. J. T. Morris and later becoming proprietor of the paper. He eventually sold the SE Star to Mr. F. H. Rischbieth and purchased The Exchange Printing Works in 1914. When the SE Star ceased publication in 1927, he purchased the plant and relocated it to Percy Street. Alf Clark died in 1931 and his daughter Millie Clark took over the management. After leaving high school in 1935, Ross Clark joined the business and started on the princely sum of ten shillings a week - $1.00 in today's currency. Ross Clark had visions for the future and wanted to take the business over but the family would not hear of it. In 1939 they did allow a partnership between Ross Clark, aged 19, and Mel Hosking, a senior and valued employee. When the Japanese entered the war Ross Clark enlisted in the RAAF and after training, graduated as a pilot. Due to the enlistment of Ross Clark and another staff member, Keith Moody, the staff were so ...