Walter Troedel was one of three sons of the leading Melbourne lithographic printer Charles Troedel to go into the family business. He spent some time in the Sydney office of Charles Troedel & Co., before returning to Melbourne to become the firm's "theatrical representative". According to Clive Turnbull, Walter Troedel was "an exemplar of Edwardian urbanity", and enjoyed the reputation of being "the handsomest and best dressed young man in Melbourne". (Turnbull, ed. The Melbourne Album. Melbourne: Georgian House, 1963. 17-18).
After Charles Troedel's death in 1906, Walter Troedel set up a partnership with another employee of Charles Troedel & Co., Edward Cooper, establishing the firm of Troedel and Cooper.
