The Globite Factory
Steeped in history, Globite is an Australian brand first founded by iconic luggage manufacturer Ford Sherington. Famed for their school cases, carried by legions of Australian children throughout most of the 20thCentury, Globite is now recognised as a leading manufacturer of travel bags and accessories throughout the world.
Established in 1911 during a time of huge development for Surry Hills, the Globite brand quickly gained notoriety for their patented fibre luggage as well as sporting goods, including cricket pads, golf bags and footballs, and gaiters used by Australian diggers during World War I. By the mid-1920s, the factory had become a stalwart of the Sydney manufacturing industry, providing jobs for over 400 employees.
The Globite factory can still be found at the same place it has stood for over 100 years; The Federation Warehouse at 119-127 Kippax Street. Designed by esteemed Sydney architectural firm Robertson and Marks, and later extended in 1923 by local architect Gordon Keesing, the building was awarded heritage listing in 2014.