Invicta Mills was one of final two remaining blanket mills of the forty that had been in operation in Australia when Invicta first began trading in 1946. This Newsletter chronicles many key milestones of this significant Textile enterprise that began humbly and grew to champion the Australian wool industry here and internationally. This typed internal company Newsletter included transcripts of the speeches made at the 1986 Annual Ball to commemorate the company’s achievements at the 40 Year mark. The Newsletter contains information about the history of the company; its’ owners, staff, wholesale customers, suppliers etc. This included the relationship with former Mayor Ron Walker. Also mentioned are the various international Wool Mark Awards the firm won for the blankets designed and produced over several decades. The Business Owner’s Speech at the Commemoration Ball “40 Years” by Mr Leon Korsica is recorded in the final pages. It tells the story of the beginnings and development of the business: its challenges, successes and some stories about key people. Invicta was a multicultural enterprise employing people from 40+ nationalities, many of whom were lifelong employees. It included former German soldiers despite the Company owners were Jewish, with much of the workforce being part of the first wave of post WWll migrants from all over Europe. Page 5 is typed in Vietnamese, a testament to the multicultural nature of the company.14 A4 pages make up the newsletter with printing on both front and back. Only black Ink has been used in the Newsletter with picture and words making up the contents of all these pages.invicta mills

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

"Modern Developments in the Australian Wool Industry", c.1923. Examines the operations of the Yarra Falls Spinning Co. Pty Ltd and the Australian Knitting Mills Limited (makers of Golden Fleece and Kookaburra knitted underwear). Includes photos of processes and of the buildings.Book, front cover: "Modern Developments in the Australia Woollen Industry" c.1923; Yarra Falls Spinning Co. Pty Ltd and Australian Knitting Mills Limited.weaving textile industry - history textile production machine knitting textile mills, yarra falls spinning co. pty ltd australian knitting mills limited, yarn - woollen, cloth - worsted, yarn - worsted, wool tops, yarn - cashmere, logo merino: sheep in australian art and design - exhibition (29/07/2000 - 04/02/2001), weaving, textile industry - history, textile production, machine knitting, textile mills

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and shows several Noble combs. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.textile mills, valley worsted mill foster valley mill pty ltd, combing, noble comb

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and probably shows the finishing area for worsted cloths. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.textile finishing, valley worsted mill, cloth - worsted

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and probably shows the finishing area for worsted cloths. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.textile finishing, valley worsted mill, cloth - worsted

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and probably shows the finishing area for worsted cloths. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.textile finishing, valley worsted mill, cloth - worsted

Six framed diagrams of loom operation. The original framed works were deaccessioned, with digital images remaining in the collection.Six digital TIFF files, depicting four framed and two unframed diagrams of loom mechanics and operation, each showing a different process:textile mills, textile machinery, diagram, loom, gordon institute of tafe

Depicts the warehouse of the Barwon Mill of the Godfrey Hirst operation in 1966, where the finished goods were stored awaiting despatch. In 1966 McKendrick Consolidated Industries Ltd purchased Godfrey Hirst Ltd to operate a carpet manufacturing concern and this photo was taken at the time of the takeover.Proof IAN HAWTHORNE / PHOTOGRAPHER / Commercial, Portrait, Wedding, Colour Processor / Upstairs, 140 Moorabool St., Geelong Ph. 98096textile mills warehouses, godfrey hirst and co. pty ltd, barwon woollen mill, excelsior one mill, textile mills - warehouses

This image shows members of the International Wool Secretariat, including Stuart Ascough, at the Chernihiv Worsted and Cloth Mill in the Ukraine. Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Image depicting five men holding guitars in an indoor setting.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, topmaking, career, wool industry, training, technical advice, mills, ukraine, textile industry, chernihov, guitars

This image shows the team from the topmaking section at the Chernihiv Worsted and Cloth Mill in the Ukraine. Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Image depicting four men and two women seated and standing around a table with coffee cups.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, topmaking, career, wool industry, training, technical advice, mills, ukraine, textile industry, chernihov

This image shows members of the International Wool Secretariat team, including Stuart Ascough, with Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv, Ukraine. Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Image depicting a group of men, most in military uniform, standing in front of a white building with green lattice.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, topmaking, career, wool industry, training, technical advice, mills, ukraine, textile industry, kyiv, soldiers

This image shows members of the International Wool Secretariat team, including Stuart Ascough, with Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv, Ukraine. Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Image depicting a group of men, most in military uniform, standing in front of a white building with green lattice.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, topmaking, career, wool industry, training, technical advice, mills, ukraine, textile industry, kyiv, soldiers