The A & V von Brockdorff Travel Bureau in Valletta during the ‘Battle of the Flowers’ as part of Silver Jubilee celebrations for King George V, 11th May 1935, courtesy of National Archives of Malta.
It is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you to our exhibition and catalogue, ‘Centennial Chronicles: Celebrating Malta’s Commercial Legacy.’
What started as a pipe dream has now become a reality. We proudly present our exhibition to mark not just our centennial but to honour the remarkable journey of Malta’s traders, entrepreneurs and legislators over the past one hundred years.
Our roots can be traced back to when pioneers like Albert and Victor von Brockdorff, who founded their insurance agency in 1920; Walter Camilleri, who followed suit in 1927, and then Alfred Formosa in 1945, laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into the Atlas of today. Over the past century, our antecedents steered their businesses through challenges and triumphs, eventually leading to the merger in 1998 instigated by Walter G. Camilleri and my father Robert von Brockdorff together with Brian Valenzia and later with Michael Gatt in 2000 to create Atlas Insurance.
Original Art Deco desk fan, 1930s-1940s, on loan from Keith Camilleri.
Bell Punch Co. adding machine ‘Plus’, 1950s, on loan from Charles de Giorgio.
– Photo by Lisa Attard
This exhibition is both a celebration of our history and a heartfelt expression of gratitude to all those who played a role in shaping Malta’s commercial legacy. Our success story is intertwined with the narratives of countless entrepreneurs, legislators, and service providers who, through their contributions, have paved the way for our nation’s growth.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank all the key individuals who have left an indelible mark on our journey. Equally important are our talented and committed staff who form the backbone of our operations. To our employees, past and present, and to our partners, distributors and collaborators, your hard work, dedication and loyalty have been instrumental to our success. We also thank all our clients who have put their trust in us over the last century and continue to do so into the future.
The exhibition not only reflects on the past but also inspires us to look forward to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. Our commitment to growth and innovation remains constant and we embrace the future with enthusiasm and positivity.
I express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has contributed and worked on this amazing project for well over one year. Our team, led by Catherine Calleja, our curator Justine Balzan Demajo, our archivist and researcher Nikolai Debono, Robert Micallef as well as many others, has worked tirelessly and meticulously to put together our exhibition. We hope you enjoy this small glimpse of our common legacy that goes well beyond our industry, proudly showcasing the commercial landscape of Malta which has sustained us.
Here’s to a century of achievements and to the limitless potential that the next chapter holds for all of us. Thank you, and let the Centennial Chronicles unfold.
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