Pallin Street

Frank Austin

'Paddy' Pallin AO

(1900-1991)

Outdoor Recreation Industry.

Paddy Pallin was a bushwalker, businessman and environmentalist. Born in England, he came to Australia in 1926 and worked as a share-farmer in outback NSW and later moved to Sydney.

An original member of the Sydney Bushwalking Club which was founded in 1927. When Paddy lost his job in 1930 during the depression he began producing lightweight, waterproof outdoor equipment and clothing.

In 1975 he established the Paddy Pallin Foundation to assist conservation projects and in the same year was awarded an Order of Australia. Pallin was involved in numerous community organisations including: the Youth Hostels Association, the scout movement and the National Parks Association of NSW.

Penfold Street

William Clarke

Penfold

(1864-1945)

Printing and Stationery Industry

Born in Sydney. In 1886 William Penfold bought a stationery firm in Pitt Street and renamed it W.C. Penfold & Co. He purchased a new lithographic printing machine and regularly updated the firm's equipment. In 1898 the first linotype machine was installed and from 1902 Penfolds printed many notable Australian books such as The Sentimental Bloke and The Magic Pudding.

In the 1920s the firm expanded into the growing packaging industry. Penfolds, 'the House of Quality' became one of the largest firms of its kind in Australia.

Petersilka Street

Augustin 'Gus'

Petersilka

(1918-1994)

Restaurant Industry and ACT Identity

Born in Austria, Augustin Petersilka or, as everyone knew him, 'Gus', migrated to Australia in 1951 coming to Canberra in 1962. Initially he worked in the hardware business but soon realised there was potential for a Viennese-style coffee-house and opened his first café in Thetis Court, Manuka. The café remained open after normal business hours and offered a European ambience.

In the late 1970s Gus opened his café 'Gus's' in Bunda Street in the City and in defiance of the rules of the day placed tables and chairs on the footpath offering a unique outdoor eating experience the Canberra community had not before enjoyed - Canberra's first side-walk café. He battled the bureaucracy and won.

He did much to enhance the quality of life in Canberra and was a pioneer in terms of giving Canberra a soul. He was named Canberran of the Year in 1978.