The Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mills was located near the Barwon river on Pakington Street, Geelong, where its building still stands. The mill was established in October 1922 with capital acquired from War Gratuity Bonds. The mill produced fine grade woollen products with its speciality being ‘Retsol’ travelling rugs. The mill first began to run into financial troubles with the ‘Credit Squeeze’ or the ‘Holt Jolt’ of the early 1960s. This saw import restrictions lifted which triggered the start of a minor recession and a rise in unemployment. Included in these troubles was the RS&S Mill which saw the number of employees gradually decrease and business declining with cheaper imports beginning to grab an expanding part of the market share. The mill was eventually purchased by Godfrey Hirst in 1973 who tried to continue operations without success and in June 1975 textile production at the site ceased. Outside of financial considerations contributing to the closure of Woollen Mills in this period was the declining need for heavier fabrics as in-home heating and insulation improved. This need had been replaced for a demand for ever softer, finer and lighter worsted fabrics for more casual clothing. Modern day textile production requires fewer steps in the processing of materials for this use. This meant large factory complexes such as early woollen mills like the RS&S mills were no longer required. Compared to modern textile production which can spin a fine yarn out of synthetic fibre or imported cotton easily, spinning fine yarn from medium quality wool at a textile factory was cumbersome and no longer financially viable to suit new consumer demands. This rug provides context to this statement. It was gifted to Shirley and Gordon Green as a wedding present in November 1963 by one of Gordon's colleagues in the wool industry. Living in areas such as Neutral Bay, the Hornsby area and later in life retiring to the Central Coast, the blanket was too heavy for use in these weather conditions and hence it stayed in its original box for nearly 60 years. Top and bottom of rug has frilled edges. Pattern is titled the 'Clan Cameron' and is repeated in a 7x7 grid. Front of rug has a red background with 4 vertical and horizontal lines. All is surrounded by a yellow boarder. Label is stitched into the bottom right corner. Reverse of rug also has a repeating 7x7 grid. Blue background with thick green horizontal stripe. Yellow and red boarder to the grid with 4 red vertical and horizontal lines making up the interior. Rug measure 1550 x 2040mm, approximately the same size as a queen size mattress.Wording, Bottom right corner. THE GEELONG R.S&S. WOOLEN MILLS/ PURE/ WOOL/ AUSTRALIA/ The John Monash Rug (cursive)/ The Clan Cameron (cursive)rs&s mills, textile manufacture, rug, clan cameron, sydney greasy wool exchange

Copy of a cheque celebrating the final repayment by R. S. & S. Woollen and Worsted Co-operative of a Commonwealth Government loan.Copy of a cheque mounted on cardboard with white and black printed text.GEELONG R. S. & S. / Woollen & Worsted Co-operative Manufacturing Co. Ltd. / £50,000 / Commonwealth Government Loan. / Repayable in 10 Years / Granted by Special Act of Parliament 20th Dec. 1922. / Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister -- Hon. Arthur Rogers Minister for Repatriation / Final Repayment by above Cheque -- 20th Dec. 1932.

Ofice at the R S & S mill.Black and white photograph of four people in an office, most likely at the Returned Soldiers & Sailors Mill, Geelong.Gen Stan Savige/ Mr Schofield/ Gethin Kidmantextile mills - management textile mills - staff textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, kidman, mr g. l., textile mills - management, textile mills - staff, textile mills

Program for a 'Welcome Home' held by the RSS Mill on Friday, 21 June, 1946, to welcome back their ex-employees who had enlisted in the Second World War. The program includes a list of employees who served, where they fought and a list of those who were killed.Program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II.RETSOL / WELCOME / HOME / Friday, 21st June, 1946 / With the Compliments of the Directorate of the / Returned Sailors' & Soldiers' Woollen & Worsted / Co-operative Manufacturing Coy. Ltd. - - Geelongworld war ii, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill

Program for a 'Welcome Home' held by the RSS Mill on Friday, 21 June, 1946, to welcome back their ex-employees who had enlisted in the Second World War. The program includes a list of employees who served, where they fought and a list of those who were killed.Program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II. First page of a program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II. Second page of a program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II. Third page of a program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II. Last page of a program to welcome home the RSS Mill employees who enlisted in World War II (lists those who were killed).RETSOL / WELCOME / HOME / Friday, 21st June, 1946 / With the Compliments of the Directorate of the / Returned Sailors' & Soldiers' Woollen & Worsted / Co-operative Manufacturing Coy. Ltd. - - Geelongworld war ii, textile mills, textile mills staff, returned soldiers and sailors mill, textile mills - staff

Photo depicts the Geelong Returned Soldiers and Sailors Woollen and Worsted Mill Board of Directors in 1938. Pictured are: Secretary - E.J. Fairnie; Director - G.W. McDonald; Chairman - D.P.C. Wilson; Managing Director - A. Schofield; Director - Padre Charles Neville; Director - F.H. BurnRSS Mill Board of Directors, 1938.GEELONG R.S. & S. WOOLLEN & WORSTED CO-OPERATIVE / MANUFACTURING COY. LIMITED / BOARD OF DIRECTORS / 22nd OCTOBER, 1938 The / Lockwood Studios / Geelongtextile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, fairnie, mr edward john - returned soldiers and sailors mill schofield, mr albert m.b.e. - returned soldiers and sailors mill wilson, mr d. p.c. - returned soldiers and sailors mill

a/ Cover reads: Seasonal Greetings, The 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment (A.I.F.) Association 1964. Cover also has 2 rectangles one red and one blue (Corp/regiment colours) Inside reads: The same old Season's Greetings hasn't changed a bit, But neither have the friendly thoughts That always go with it. A Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year News of members at all times appreciated President: C. Edwards 108 Malpas St., Preston Phone 47 7414. Written in black pen is 'John Grylls 113 Panton St Golden Square.' And underlined. b/ Receipt of membership to the RSL . Victorian Branch Consecutive C No. 75938 'Returned Sailors, Soldiers & Airmen's Imperial League of Australia (Victoria) Kangaroo Flat Sub Branch. Received from J Grylls. Address 113 Panton St, Golden Square. Regt. No. 418 Unit 4th Light Horse. Front or Sea on which served France. The sum of One Pound, being subscription for the year ending 31st December, 1965 For the above branch Signed . . . 9/1/65arms, materiel, 4th australian light horse regiment, a/ seasonal greetings, the 4th australian light horse regiment (a.i.f.) association 1964. cover also has 2 rectangles one red and one blue (corp/regiment colours) a merry christmas to you all and a happy new year president: c. edwards malpas st., preston phone 47 7414. b/ receipt of membership to the rsl . victorian branch consecutive c no. 75938 'returned sailors, soldiers & airmen's imperial league of australia (victoria) kangaroo flat sub branch. received from j grylls. address 113 panton st, golden square. regt. no. 418 unit 4th light horse. served france. subscription 1965 branch

The badge was made in the 1940s for Victoria Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' League (RSSL). The word 'Imperial' has been dropped frrom the title.This is an original badge from the 1940s.A round brass badge with a scroll at the bottom and a crown at the top, red, blue, brass colours,Front - Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' League, Victoria, War Service Fund. White background RSL badge with sailor and soldier in the middle. Back - the number 156, Stokes, Melb.rssl, rssila, victoria, 1940s, rsl badge

Style of badge worn by returned soldiers and sailors from WW1. Started 1919 to early Ww2 by the organisation, "The Imperial League".Shield shaped badge with small crown on top. White background with blue circle and images of standing soldier and sailor in the middle.Engraved Ïmperial League" Returned sailors and soldiers". On back engraved P9043 to enable tracking of individual.passchendaele barracks trust, ww1, returned service league, badge

This Badge is a limited edition replica of the first RSL Badge which was worn by soldiers and sailors returning from WW1... The original RSL badges were issued to founding RSL membersThese Badges are original Limited Editions.A gold plated badge in the shape of the first RSL Badge Issue.On the front - Returned Sailors Solders Imperial League Australia 1919 On the Reverse - Made in Australiaww1, rsl badge, limited editions

RSL Badge Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial Leaguebadge/buttons

RSL Badge Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League 1922-1941badge/buttons

.1) This is the original old style. .2) Clip on top with "73" means financial member that year. Item in collection relating to the Jackson Family..1) Badge, large, brass, crown at top, two central figures, rear has two lugs and is stamped. .2) Badge, small, brass, crown at top, three central figures, rear has one lug and stamped. The crown has a clip on with the number "73" on..1) "Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League", on rear, "11693" .2) "Returned Sailors, Soldiers & Airmans Imperial League"badges, rsl, league

The badges relate to the HEWSTON family collection WW1 & WW11. The large badge with clip 1919 was possibly H.E.Hewstons No 40 AIF. Refer Cat No 2759.2..1) Badge, metal, RSSILA. Crown at top with RSL Membership Clip 1919. Centre has 2 figures. .2) Badge, metal, RSSAILA. Crown at top with 3 central figures. .1) “Returned Sailor's Soldier's Imperial League Australia No 67888” .2) “Returned Sailor's Soldier's Airmen's Imperial League Australia No V99409”numismatics-badges, societies-returned service league, rsl, membership

Images were taken by a staff member of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Mill in Newtown, a MR. Norm Holroyd. The photos were taken between the 1960s-1970s. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. Upon his death, the album went to his daughter, Judie Holroyd, who has donated them to the National Wool Museum.A collection of 38 black and white images, each individually mounted on cardboard backing, showing scenes of various stages of fabric production at the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Mill in Newtown. Each individual image page has 4 holes on the left side so it can be stored in a folder. Folder is not included in the donation.Numberswoolen mill wool production loom

RSL Badge Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League 1922-1941 Renewed 1961badge/buttons

Certificate awarded to the Geelong RSS Mill for winning the gold medal for the most attractive still grouped exhibit at the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures Centennial Exhibition in 1936.Certificate awarded to the RSS Mill for the most attractive still grouped exhibit at the South Australian Chamber of Manufactures Centennial Exhibition, 1936.South Australian Chamber of Manufactures / INCORPORATED. / Centennial Exhibition / MARCH 20th to MAY 16th, 1936. / GOLD MEDAL / AWARDED TO / GEELONG RETURNED SAILORS' & SOLDIERS' / WOOLLEN & WORSTED MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. / Most Attractive Still Grouped Exhibit. / Section A. / H.E. WINTERBOTTOM, Secretary. / Modern Printing Company, Chancery Lane, Adelaide. Phone, Central 283.woollen mills history, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, 1918: australians in france - exhibition (19/02/2000 - 30/04/2000), woollen mills - history

Badge mounted on light coloured timberReturned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen Imperial Australia League

Small metal members badge for the Australia Imperial LeagueAustralia Imperial League. 44. Returned Sailors and Soldiers.

issued to Henry Claude Roussac 1737 a Gallipoli Veteran 25 BnEnameled Brass badge (Obverse) Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial league (Reverse) COPYRIGHT 22124 STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE returned soldiers and sailors imperial league, rsl badge, roussac, badge

The badges relate to Cat No 2320.2.1) Poppy Day Badge .2) RSSAILA Badge with clasp pin denoting 1969 membership.2) "Returned Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, Imperial League of Australia"numismatics-badges, societies

White card with white red and blue flags and blue print. On the card are the words, ' Welcome to Bendigo. The Bendigo Branch of the R.S. & S.I. L.A. welcome you back to your Native City, congratulating you on your safe return.' Major Adams, V.D. Two copies. C. 1945.clubs and associations, history, service clubs, lydia chancellor, collection, world war ii, civic reception, returned sailors & soldiers imperial league australia