The Herald ran an article on all things Saddlery and Harness in 1913.

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MR A. MORRISON'S DISPLAY.

Mr Alexander Morrison's saddlery and harness stand, down by the horse stalls, is decked with prize certificates. At Mr Morrison's establishment 418 Bourke Street, all manner of horse gear is turned out on the best English and American models, and, in addition, such specialties as trotting boots, horse clothing, too weights, and so forth are made. Samples of this stock are exhibited at the Show, and the prize certificates are distributed over every branch of the work. There are first and second class prizes for ladies' astride saddles, the first being for a doeskin and the second for a pigskin, with skirt protector. A demi-suede saddle also shows what beauty can be imparted into saddlery. A second prize ticket is attached to demi-pigskin with skirt protector. There are also first and second prizes for men's pigskin saddles: first prize for a stock saddle in solid leather, and first and second prizes for racing saddles in doeskin and wallaby. In all these exhibits, and in the many others which were not exhibited for competition, an exquisite finish of workmanship is apparent. The harness work strikingly displays the merit of modern improvements in padding and general strengthening of the strain-bearing parts. In saddlery the range of leather has been extended to include wallaby skin and suede, and the resulting products are very handsome. The show of horses' trotting and galloping boots is complete, and illustrates the high degree to which this department of horse furniture has been carried. The leather used is of choice sorts, and of fine appearance. In fancy lines, such as whips, some examples of clever workmanship are exhibited.

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Alex Morrison died in 1933, however his family, manager and staff carried on the business in a manner similar to when Alex was alive. Hundreds of letters received by his bereaved relatives testified to his manly and lovable qualities, and 'his death leaves an unbridgeable gap in the vast circle of his friends'. A follow up article from the Sporting Globe reiterated the popularity of the deceased gentleman.

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LATE MR. MORRISON  -   Great Veteran Sportsman

THE death of Mr Alex Morrison. the well-known Bourke Street saddler caused regret in sporting and business circles for he was one of the most highly men of the city. His sportsmanship and sterling qualities were acknowledged everywhere. The late Mr Morrison played with the Nelson cricket club in 1876-8 and was a fine player in the Junior Challenge Cup Competition. Later he played with Emerald and was also well known in turf circles, and was the maker of racing saddles. As a field shot, he was one of the finest in Victoria. Three years ago, while quail shooting, he had the misfortune to fall and break his hip. He made saddles to orders from America, England, and India. When the Prince of Wales visited Australia, he was so impressed that, on his return, he ordered three special saddles from Morrison.

 

It was reported in the Bacchus Marsh Express in 1949 that "Mr. R. G. Gregg, of East Malvern had been connected with Morrison's saddlery establishment in the city for 45 years and still attends the shop daily, at the age of 81." It is unknown what part he played in the business but he had been in attendance at Morrison's since 1904, so the gentleman would have seen a lot of changes in his time.

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"See you at Morrison's" Many country people, interstate as well as Victorian, will remember this as their usual appointed meeting place in Melbourne back in the days when cable trams ran past this Bourke Street saddlery and mechanised farming methods were still regarded as something of an innovation. Established by the late Alex Morrison long before the turn of the century, it was a popular meeting place for country visitors to town, and with Kirk's Horse Bazaar adjacent, was a busy, bustling place, occupying three floors above the double-fronted shop and with its own factory at the rear. Shops have now replaced the old Bazaar and Hardware Street runs through the former salt ring, and buses glide silently over the unused tramlines on the road outside. Few farmers have horse teams and black harness is seldom mentioned. But, because of a world-wide reputation for the making of racing equipment, the name of Alex Morrison is more widely known than ever. Its saddles are bought by most of the State's leading jockeys as well as interstate horsemen. It was this pride in the Morrison reputation and a regard for its old associations that induced Alex Morrison's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Colin Morrison to keep the business "in the family" when her invalid husband died two years ago and sometime after she had been acting as unofficial head on the sudden death of her brother-in-law, Mr. Keith Morrison. In discussing her decision, Mrs Morrison is careful to discount any suggestion that she is a "master saddler" or that she takes any part in the actual manufacture. Her job, she says; is in the office, and as manager she still has Mr H. Harper, who has been on the staff for 30 years, and who originally came from Maryborough, Victoria.

In the 1950’s it was stated “So successful has been Mrs Morrison, she is now accepted even by Morrison’s oldest customers. When she first appeared in the shop, the old-timers flatly refused to have anything to do with her. What could an attractive, young, woman know about the finer points of a saddle or thoroughbred equipment, they muttered. They were right, too! Mrs Morrison says in those days she found it hard to tell the difference between one saddle and another. There were some awkward, embarrassing periods when, for minutes at a time, customers gathered at one end of the shop while she was at the other end and refused to give their orders until a male assistant came along. The old master craftsmen in the workshop upstairs also did not like the idea of taking orders from a woman. However, Mrs Morrison stuck it out. Gradually she learned the retail and ordering end of the business. Her tenacity won over the tradesmen, and later, the customers.” And one would imagine, eventually, the horses too. “She is now able to discuss all the finer points with customers with ease and they have got over the initial shock of dealing with a mere woman.”

Almost every week orders come in from England, America and other places for saddles. The firm has fulfilled special orders for saddles from the Duke of Windsor, the King of Siam, numerous Indian Maharajahs, from Malaya, and well-known jockeys and breeders in England, Ireland and the U.S.A. Many Melbourne Cup and other classic winners have been "kicked home" in Morrison racing saddles. Most of Melbourne's leading jockeys (and quite a few Sydney horsemen, too) have their saddles made to order there. Recently, American jockey Johnny Longden bought a Morrison saddle made to the pattern used by the great Australian jockey Frank Bullock 20 years ago. The morning [Smith's Weekly] called on Mrs. Morrison in May 1950, she was opening an order for polo saddles from a wealthy American breeder — and wondering how she would fulfil it. Her staff of 16 is flat out these days trying to keep up with the booming local demand for saddles and other equipment. From the flow of orders, it would appear that more women than ever before are taking part in gymkhana equestrienne events. Although the trade is booming, very few young men are being attracted to it. In the Morrison workshop most of the master craftsmen are more than 60 years old. There is bushy, black eye-browed Jack Flett, 35 years foreman at Morrison's, who has spent a lifetime with the pleasing smell of new leather in his nostrils. And old Jim Brown, who forgets how many racing saddles he has made during his 40 or so years there. He is still turning them out at the rate of two a week — every stitch hand-made, for saddlery is one of the few remaining handcrafts.