The life of Fred R. Burley was one of absorbing interest. His story is full of fascination for those who admire courage and the triumph of man over circumstances.

Fred Burley was born at Hamilton, Victoria, on 29 May 1885. He was educated in Ballarat, where his association with the softgoods trade commenced in 1899. Early in life he realised that knowledge was the key to success, and formed his characteristic desire for self-improvement. Aiming to excel in anything he undertook, he enthusiastically continued his studies at night to enable him to do a better-than-average job.

In 1900 he joined the firm of Brooks McGlashan and McHarg of Melbourne as junior in their Ballarat warehouse, was appointed Department Manager at Melbourne 1908, Sub-Manager at Sydney 1909, and Manager at Sydney 1910.

Later in 1910 he left his post as Sydney Manager to take up a half share in E. Gover & Co., Market Street, Sydney, where Mrs. Murdoch (then Miss Andrew) was employed. In 1911 Mrs. H. Gorell (sister-in-law) and another relative bought the remaining shares of the business and in 1912 additional new premises for E. Gover & Co. were obtained at Wilmot Street. Here it was decided to do the wholesale business only, and Mr. Gorell took charge of the factory.

Visualising the real possibilities of further developing the wholesale manufacturing side, Mr. Fred R. Burley decided to form a separate company, and asked his brother Mr. Arthur Burley, to join him. In July "Unique Corsets Limited" was formed with a nominal capital of �10,000, paid-up capital �2,500. Mr. Fred R. Burley was Chairman and Managing Director; Mr. Arthur Burley was Director and Secretary; Mr. H. Gorell, Director. In 1913 "Mr. Fred" made his first visit abroad to study materials and manufacturing activities. He made many subsequent trips abroad, and took every opportunity to study modern industrial methods in many countries, notably U.S.A., Canada and the United Kingdom.

Having a keen interest in industrial relations, early in the development of his company Mr. Burley established various welfare activities to benefit the employees of the company, which were then in advance of current practice. As early as 1917 Profit-sharing Certificates were issued to the staff, on which they received the same rate of dividends as the ordinary shareholders. This scheme operated successfully until it was replaced by a complete Staff Provident Fund.

In 1923, believing that preference for the Australian-made goods was a vital thing in our national life, Fred R. Burley founded the Australian Made Preference League, and was its first President. At the end of that same year he founded Berlei (N.Z.) Ltd.

In 1926-27, at his instigation, a vast and systematic anthropometrical survey of women�s measurements was made. This was the first of its kind in the world, and as a result, Berlei Limited were able to make garments on a scientific health basis, and this resulted in the invention of the famous Berlei Figure Type Indicator.

In 1930 he founded Berlei (U.K.) Ltd., in England, and to-day this organisation is flourishing. At that time, it was unheard of that an article of Australian origin and design should be manufactured in England, and the soundness of Mr. Burley�s foresight and judgement was proved by the ready acceptance by British women of Berlei foundation garments.

Fred Burley did not confine his activities solely to his business; he had many outside interests in community service, and one subject that interested him perhaps more than any other was the permanent improvement of the relations between employer and employee. He applied its principles to his own business, and was always ready to do what he could to advance this cause.

Other interests he had were the Chamber of Manufactures, Young Australia League, Boy Scouts� Association, Father and Son Welfare Movement, Big Brother Movement, and the League of Nations Union. He held life Governorships in the Crown Street Women�s and the Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals, Sydney, the Alfred and the Women�s Hospitals, Melbourne, the General Hospital, Geelong, and held a life membership of the Y.M.C.A. and the Smith Family.

His membership of the Rotary Club of Sydney began in 1922, where he served as Treasurer, Director and Committee Chairman, attending many Rotary International Conventions, and most Rotary Conferences when in Australia. He served Rotary International as District Governor in Australia in 1931-32.

The business of the company necessitated his removal to London in 1933, where he joined the Rotary Club of London and became its President in 1941. On his return to Australia in 1947 he was elected to the Rotary Club of Sydney as "senior active" member.

In July, 1950, our founder and then Governing Director, Fred R. Burley, retired from active operation of the company and was appointed Chairman of Directors. A gala evening was held, with the whole Berlei staff and business contacts present, to mark the occasion of his retirement. Berlei (N.Z.), Ltd., was represented by their Chairman of Directors, Mr. J. A. Gentles and Mr. Keith J. Burley, Joint Managing Director of Berlei (U.K.) Ltd., also visited Australia on this occasion.

To have started out in life with nothing but a will to succeed and build up the Berlei triad, an industrial enterprise with a combined staff of 2,000, which for quality of its products and for fair-deal relations between employer and employees, will stand comparison with the best of its kind in the world; to have successfully extended that business to every State of the Commonwealth, to New Zealand, and, Finally, to the heart of the British Commonwealth, is surely a great achievement and one of which Australians may be proud.

Fred Burley as a boy
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Berlei House - Berlei Limited
Photo taken in 1946
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A Berlei Staff Concert - 1948
Fred Burley Congratulating the performers
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Fred Burley�s Retirement Dinner � 1950
Pictured here with Arthur Burley
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