Since 1974, 61 Design has grown into a thriving Ballarat business under the leadership of Henk and Stefan Batstra.
Join us in celebrating 50 years of pushing boundaries, embracing fresh ideas, and pursuing design excellence.
Henksan Printers is established on Creswick Road, Ballarat, as a collaborative effort between Henk and Sandra. Specialising in hand composition, letterpress, and offset printing, the company marks the beginning of the husband-and-wife partnership.
In a significant stride forward for the rapidly growing business, Henksan Printers relocates to a larger premises at 61 Humffray St North, Ballarat. Henk and Sandra’s children, Sonya (7) and Stefan (8), become familiar faces around the print shop.
We discover the old fig tree at the rear of the business is an incredibly prolific fruiter. To this day, Stefan is happy to share the fruit – but only if you ask first!
We installed a Rotaprint R 40 AK offset printing press, a technological leap. Subsequently, a reliable Heidelberg GTO 46 offset printing press replaced it for enhanced quality and versatility. Finally, a Shinohara offset printing press was added, expanding capabilities to print books, magazines, and brochures.
Henksan Printers expands its services to include graphic design.
To accommodate the growing business, Henk purchases the adjacent building at 63 Humffray St, formerly the Spotless Fish Shop.
The business further diversifies, incorporating website design and development.
Henk retires, passing the torch to Stefan, who rebrands the business as 61 Design. Henk’s retirement is celebrated with a surprise party at Racers Bar and Cafe on Lake Wendouree.
The company adds its first digital print press, enhancing capabilities for short print runs, quicker turnarounds, and cost-effective variable designs.
61 Design acquires 59 Humffray St North and completes renovations by the year’s end. The new space provides a modern office environment, reflecting 61 Design’s ongoing expansion.
In our inaugural Christmas Party Go-Kart race, Stefan, aka Cole Trickle, emerges victorious, surpassing colleagues Orlando Vroom, Kitty, Avada Go-Fast-a, Speedy McFly, Jimmy 5, Rowdy Burns, and AchyBrakeyCart in a thrilling competition.
This marble slab was his colour mixing station. He’d carefully blend ink for our offset printer, making sure every shade was just right.
They could chop up to 500 sheets at once, making sure every cut was spot-on.
From the plates of our faithful 1959 Perfecta guillotine to the intricate details of perforation wheels, stitching buttons, gauges, and timeless letterpress type.
We create custom designs for your business, including logos, print materials, and signs. Our team mixes creativity, strategy, and technical skills for a dramatic visual impact.
Get a variety of print materials, like business cards and banners, using our creative and technical expertise. We pay attention to quality and detail to leave a lasting impression.
We make user-friendly websites that are easy to find on search engines. From easy navigation to designs that work on all devices, we ensure a great user experience.
We create effective content for your website, social media, blogs, and ads using a mix of creativity and strategy.
We can help you improve your social media presence by creating content, scheduling posts, and managing your community across platforms.
We can enhance your brand with videos, photos, and animations that bring your story to life.
Get in touch with us to see how our services can benefit your business.
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