Stories over the years of the Dunlop Factory being sold to developers have been told, yet none seemed to be true and it kept standing, but now I fear it is and the days of the Dunlop factory are numbered. Fences have been erected, padlocks put back on the fences and even some of the interior walls and openings have been bricked up. I have a bad feeling the fate of the Dunlop Factory is not looking good. Try get here why you still can.
The photos on this post were taken approximately a year ago when the doors were open and you could just stroll on in. Unfortunately that’s not the case anymore and it has gone from simply walking in through many of the open doors, to having to scale fences or venture through the canals and hope to come up in the right place.
The History of Dunlop Slazenger Company
During BTR plc’s 1985 acquisition of Dunlop Holdings, a number of sports brands were combined to establish Dunlop Slazenger, a manufacturer of sporting goods. Through its brands, which include Dunlop Sport, Slazenger, Maxfli, and Carlton Sports, the corporation was well recognized for its engagement in golf, tennis, squash, and badminton.
The company was sold in 1996 as part of a management buyout supported by the private equity firm Cinven, but this arrangement failed, and the business was soon run by banks, with The Royal Bank of Scotland serving as the chief executive. The rights to Slazenger Golf in North America were sold to the Slazenger Golf Products Company during this time, while TaylorMade-Adidas Golf bought the Maxfli golf brand in 2004.
The remaining portion of Dunlop Slazenger was ultimately sold to Sports Direct in 2004 for £40 million. Since then, various businesses have purchased licenses to use the Dunlop, Slazenger, and other brands, with Dunlop Sport being sold to Sumitomo Rubber Industries in 2016–17 for $137.5 million.
The Urban Art Legacy of the Abandoned Dunlop Slazenger Factory in Sydney
For many years, Sydney’s Dunlop Slazenger factory was a haven for street artists, graffiti writers, and other urban creatives. Graffiti artists used the abandoned factory’s walls and ceilings as perfect backdrops for their displays. Graffiti artists that frequented the factory loved the traditional, stencil-based method since it allowed them to emphasize the words more.
The factory’s pillars and walls were decorated with elaborate patterns, huge, strong text, and a riot of color that gave the space a visual dynamism. The graffiti, which spanned from brief tags to enormous wall-spanning murals, was a stunning example of the amazing talent and inventiveness of the artists. A piece of art that stood out from the others served as the factory’s focal point. This artwork was embellished with a crown symbol, indicating that its author viewed themselves as royalty in the graffiti world.
Despite being an unofficial and unlawful location, the Dunlop Slazenger factory was a well-liked hangout for enthusiasts of urban art and was even viewed by some as a cultural treasure. It served as a refuge for graffiti artists looking to explore and push the boundaries of the genre. The memories and images of this magnificent place will endure in the thoughts and hearts of those who were fortunate enough to have visited despite the factory being demolished and the artwork being destroyed.
