Melbourne printers and manufacturing stationers Modern Printing Company had its origins in the firm Barton, Magee and Squires, founded at 5 Queen Street in Melbourne in 1882. Magee and Squires left the partnership in 1884 and Alfred Dunn and James Wilkinson, two former printing apprentices with Fergusson and Moore, joined Barton. Barton soon left, and the firm traded as Dunn and Wilkinson until around 1900 when Wilkinson too departed, and Alfred Dunn, now sole proprietor, adopted the name Modern Printing Company. During all of this time the company was located at Queen Street, Melbourne, although at different locations. By 1900 it was settled at 127-129 Queen Street, where it employed 53 staff. It became a proprietary company in 1905.
Business expanded rapidly after a move to new premises at Leicester Street, in Carlton, Melbourne, in 1918. A commercial printing subsidiary developed by the company, Wrappings Pty Ltd, was purchased by Edwards Dunlop and Co. in 1965.
When Alfred Dunn died in 1927 he was succeeded as managing director by his son Alfred Samuel Dunn, who had joined the business at the age of 11 in 1890. Subsequent descendants who directed the company were Alfred C. Dunn (1955-1982) and Alfred John Dunn (1982-1984). The company ceased trading in the 1980s.
Source: A. C. Dunn, The Business That Service Built; History of Modern Printing Co. 1882 - 1982 (1984)
