Jerrems Binding Services was established in 1878 as ‘C & E.L Jerrems’. Charles and his brother, Edwin Lewis Jerrems, began their bookbinding company in Kent St, Sydney. Charles won several national awards for binding in the late 1870’s to early 1880’s.
Prior to this, Thomas Corbett established a bindery in his name in 1854 and soon became friends with the Jerrems brothers. At the time of his death in 1910, his son Cecil Corbett was still at school and too young to carry on the business, so it was absorbed into Jerrems, due to the long standing friendship. Eventually Cecil Corbett went into the business and on the death of Mr. Jerrems assumed full control, in approximately 1925.
A few years before this, George Simms (grandfather of a current Director), who had worked for W.C Penfolds as a paper ruler, started working for Jerrems. After a few years of working at Jerrems, George bought into a partnership with Cecil (around 1930’s).
In 1931, at the age of 15, Frederick Corbett, son of Cecil, started working at Jerrems as a bookbinder and third generation member of the firm. Rodney Simms, son of George, started with Jerrems in 1952 at the age of 14.
After many years in Kent St, C & E.L Jerrems moved to 35 Balfour St Chippendale around 1957. Cecil Corbett died in 1965 and George Simms in 1967. Their two sons carried on the business harmoniously, with Fred retiring in 1986 (over 50 years service) and Rodney in 1997 (45 years service).
Jerrems moved to Marrickville from Chippendale in 1982 and then to the current location at 23 Shirlow St, Marrickville in 1987.
Rodney Simms merged with Allgraphics in 1988 and then bought them out in 1990, resulting in the “new” name Jerrems Binding Services Pty Ltd.
In 1993, Scott Gilfillan (Rodney’s son-in-law), began with the company, running the firm till present day, with Rodney’s daughter, Jenny.
The Corbett, Simms and Gilfillan’s have all had other family members working at Jerrems. The business heads towards its 150th anniversary making it one of the oldest enterprises in Australia.