Cirrus@Austlit

J. W. Gillingham was a former employee of the printer Carey and Page, who acquired the business in 1888 with George Frederick Hussey, and formed the partnership Hussey and Gillingham. After Hussey retired in 1921, Gillingham continued in business with his nephew G. C. Swann as Gillingham and Swann, until Swann's retirement in 1924. Two new partners, R. H. Cotton and F. C. Powell, joined the company, which continued as Gillingham and Co. J. W. Gillingham willed shares in the company to the Methodist Ladies College, which was the majority shareholder between 1942 and 1978, when the shares were sold to John Bowman.

Primarily a printer, in certain periods Gillingham has also been a small publisher, publishing some local histories, children's books, and school workbooks. In recent years the company has concentrated on printing and packaging. It operates from Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.