This Australian icon first made its appearance greater than 75 years ago (in 1922) when a young chemist named Dr Cyril Callister at the Fred Walker Cheese Company (now part of The Kraft Group) developed a remarkable new spread from brewer's yeast. It was not until 1923 when Vegemite first graced grocers' shelves after the name "Vegemite" was coined after a naming competition. Back then, it was described as "delicious on sandwiches and toast. Improves the flavour of soups, stews and gravies". However, its appealing flavour and nutritional qualities did not immediately catch on with the locals, despite having one of the world's richest known sources of Vitamin B. The British Medical Association prior to the Second World War even endorsed the product in its Medical Journal stressing its rich Vitamin B properties. Some time later, even infant welfare centres were recommending Vegemite to babies for their source of Vitamins B1, B2 and Niacin of Vegemite had in spades. Despite this, initial sales were slow.

Vegemite was renamed Parwill in 1928 in order to stimulate demand but this strategy was flawed. It was an attempt to emulate the success of the English "Marmite" spread of which Vegemite resembles. Australians who grew up with Vegemite generally loved its taste but to others, it was an acquired taste. It is not too dissimilar to Marmite except it is saltier and should be applied sparingly on sandwiches and bread rolls.

Today as Vegemite approaches its 80^th birthday, its advertising campaign returns to its 1954 trademark jingle "Happy Little Vegemites". This was a catchy tune that caught Aussie imagination like no other, it was a song for the times, a song for healthy children in a "Lucky Country".

A major landmark occurred in 1991 when a Vegemite Exhibition was staged at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum. This display featured original jars and promotional material dating all the way back to Vegemite's birth in 1922. Interestingly, the majority of the early jars used in the Exhibition came from consumers following a national search for the historical Vegemite memorabilia. This demonstrates the extent of Vegemite�s reach into the hearts and homes of most Australians.