Showing 215 items
matching woollen mills history
-
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history valley ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, valley worsted mill, photographs, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history valley ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, valley worsted mill, photographs, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history valley ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, valley worsted mill, photographs, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history valley ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, valley worsted mill, photographs, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history valley ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, valley worsted mill, photographs, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Photograph
... woollen mills history... and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill. woollen mills history textile ...Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.woollen mills history, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, the spirit of anzac, fairnie, mr edward john - returned soldiers and sailors mill, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Book, Fibre and Fabric
... Textile Industry - history Woollen Mills - history... Woollen Mills - history Textile Industry - history Woollen Mills ..."Fibre and Fabric: the wool, cotton, textile and allied industries in Melbourne's West" - Gary Vines, 1993. This book is a short history of the wool, cotton, textile and allied industries of the area west of Melbourne. It looks at how, why and when these industries developed and their effect upon the cultural and geographic landscape.FIBRE AND FABRIC / Gary Vines / Melbourne's Living Museum of the West Incorportatedtextile industry - history woollen mills - history, textile industry - history, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Document, Celebrate 100 Years
... Woollen Mills history...-and-the-bellarine-peninsula Woollen Mills history Textile Mills Godfrey ...woollen mills history, textile mills, godfrey hirst and co. pty ltd excelsior woollen and worsted mills, hirst, mr cedric l - godfrey hirst and co. pty ltd, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Document
... Woollen Mills history...-and-the-bellarine-peninsula Woollen Mills history Textile Mills Returned ...woollen mills history, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, sladen house, geelong, woollen mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Document, Geelong's Pre-Eminent Place in the Textile Industry
... Woollen Mills history...-and-the-bellarine-peninsula Woollen Mills history Textile Mills history ...woollen mills history, textile mills history, geelong, woollen mills - history, textile mills - history -
National Wool Museum
Certificate, South Australian Chamber of Manufactures Centennial Exhibition, 1936
... Woollen Mills history... Exhibition in 1936. Woollen Mills history Textile Mills Returned ...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 -
National Wool Museum
Rug
... Woollen Mills - history... of the Weaving Room until his death in 1952. Woollen Mills - history ...Mr Mears father Horace Mear bought the rug c1933. He was ex British Navy and had migrated to Australia in 1920. Horace worked as a loom tuner at Valley Woollen Mill Geelong in the early 1920's then worked at Federal Woollen Mills as the Manager of the Weaving Room until his death in 1952.RETSOL RUG D E MEARwoollen mills - history, returned soldiers and sailors mill valley worsted mill federal woollen mills ltd, retsol rugs, weaving -
National Wool Museum
Certificate
... Woollen Mills - history... down Woollen Mills - history Classweave Industries Pty Ltd ...Acquired when "Classweave Industries" closed downThis is to Certify that/ the Committee of Management has elected Mr William Miller/ Honorary Life Governor /of the Geelong and District Hospital,/ 21st August, 1940woollen mills - history, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd geelong and district hospital, miller, mr william -
National Wool Museum
Brochure, The A to Z of Woollen and Worsted Manufacture
... Pty Ltd Albany Woollen Mills Textile Industry - history Wool ...Produced by the Albany Woollen Mills. Western Australiatextile industry - history wool marketing, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile industry - history, wool marketing -
National Wool Museum
Samples
... Industry - history Wool Marketing Albany Woollen Mills Textile ...Produced by the Allexander Lau Pty Ltdtextile industry - history wool marketing, albany woollen mills, textile industry - history, wool marketing -
National Wool Museum
Photograph, Albany Woollen Mills, 1954
... - history Textile Design Alexander Lau Pty Ltd Albany Woollen Mills ...Albany Woollen Mills, 1954.Albany Woollen Mills, 1954textile mills - history textile design, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile mills - history, textile design -
National Wool Museum
Photograph, Albany Woollen Mills, 1968
... - history Textile Design Alexander Lau Pty Ltd Albany Woollen Mills ...Albany Woollen Mills, 1968Albany Woollen Mills, 1968textile mills - history textile design, alexander lau pty ltd albany woollen mills, textile mills - history, textile design -
National Wool Museum
Photograph, [Staff of Geelong Woollen Mills 1880s]
... of a Geelong woollen mill, c.1880s. Textile Industry - history Textile ...Group photograph, possibly depicting the staff of a Geelong woollen mill, c.1880s.Photograph of the staff of a Geelong Woollen Mill, c.1880s.Geelong Wollen Mills [sic] / Taken in early 80'stextile industry - history textile mills - history textile mills - staff, geelong woollen mills, textile industry - history, textile mills - history, textile mills - staff -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Financial record - Ledger Woollen Mill, Circa 1910
... History of Warrnambool ledger warrnambool woollen mill share ...In 1869, the Warrnambool Meat Preserving Company commenced their business on the site, where it operated until 1875 when it was sold to the directors of the Warrnambool Woolen Mill Company. After being destroyed by fire in 1882 it wasn’t until 1910 that the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce was approached by Marcus Saltau and Peter McGennan to invest in a new mill. The original directors were James Dickson, P J McGennan, Robert Swinton, M Saltau, and J W Younger. In 1955 the Warrnambool Woollen Mill formed a partnership with the Wangaratta Woollen Mills. Dunlop bought the mill in 1968. From that time until its closure in 2000 it had a number of different owners, the last being the Smith Family Industries. This register contains a list of names addresses and occupations of share holders from the period 1910 to 1944.This register provides a comprehensive listing of people who owned shares in the Warrnambool Woollen Mill in the period directly after its beginnings. It is interesting to note that the majority of share owners in the earlier days were from Warrnambool and District while entries in the later years are from further afield.Dark green cloth hard cover with tan point and spine. One red and one black label on spine with gold lettering. Pages are numbered as one number to the opened page. Entries for the most part are written in black ink. Two printed sheets from The Stock Exchange of Melbourne and National Securities are inside the front cover. W.M. Co. Share Transfer Register on labels on spine.warrnambool woollen mill, history of warrnambool, ledger warrnambool woollen mill, share register warrnambool woollen mill -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Financial record - Ledger Woollen Mill (WWM Co Limited), Circa 1876
... of Warrnambool’s history. warrnambool woollen mill warrnambool woolen mill ...This ledger relates to the original Woollen Mill which commenced trading in 1875 on the site of the Meat Preserving Company. It shows entries from July 1875 which lists the following men as shareholders: James Alexander, William Armstrong, Robert Hood, Anthony Mackenzie, William Ross, William Rutledge, Francis Tozer, Joseph Ware. It operated until 1882 when it was destroyed by fire. This ledger contains details of one of the earliest industries in Warrnambool. It provides the details of expenses as well as the names of the earliest shareholders. As such it is a significant part of Warrnambool’s history.Large tan, leather bound cover with dark brown scroll pattern around edges. Spine and front cover have maroon labels with gold writing. Paper inside front and back covers id blue and red patterned. Edges of pages are patterned in pink, blue, yellow and green. 754 pages. Apart from suspense account on last page, entries are made up to page 425.Evans Brothers, wholesale and retail Manufacturing stationers, Printers and bookbinders 44 Collins St West, Melbourne & 46 Sturt St Ballarat.warrnambool woollen mill, warrnambool woolen mill, ledger warrnambool woollen mill 1875, early warrnambool business, warrnambool history -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Packaging, W'bool Woollen Mill, between 1983 and 1994
The Warrnambool Woollen Mill was established in South Warrnambool in 1909 and was officially opened in 1910 with John Bennett as the first manager. In 1968 the mill was sold to the Dunlop company and in 1982 Dunlop sold the mill to Onkaparinga Woollen Company. In 1983 Onkaparinga was taken over by Macquarie Worsteds and traded in Warrnambool as Warrnambool Textiles. This arrangement ceased in 1994. In 2000 the mill closed after 90 years of operations.This is not a very significant item but it is interesting as it is connected to one of the major industries operating in Warrnambool for 90 years (1910-2000). It highlights also one aspect of the mill’s history- the years 1983-1994 when the mill operated as Warrnambool Textiles. This is a plastic shopping bag from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill shop. It has red printing on the front and back.‘Bargains Galore at the Woollen Mill Shop, Located at the Mill, Warrnambool Textiles, Harris Street, South Warrnambool, 3280, Phone: (055) 64 0044’warrnambool woollen mill -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Booklet, Warrnambool Racing Club Annual Reports 1985,86, 1909
This booklet contains the address given by the Rev. W. Gray Dixon in 1909 at St. Paul’s Christchurch to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. It was published at the request of the General Assembly and the proceeds of the sale of the booklet went into Presbyterian Church funds. The Rev. William Gray Dixon was born in Scotland and was the Presbyterian Minister at St. John’s Warrnambool from 1889 to 1900. In 1900 he went to New Zealand to St. David’s Church, Auckland and later to Dunedin. Rev, Gray Dixon was the author of several publications relating to Presbyterian Church history and activities. This booklet was sent from Auckland by Rev. Gray Dixon to Marcus Saltau, his friend in Warrnambool. Marcus Saltau (1869-1945)followed his father in the produce business in Warrnambool and expanded it to include management of the Warrnambool tramway (which took freight from the town to the port) and a shipping business that had its own vessels and an interstate and international trade. Marcus Saltau was prominent in Warrnambool’s community as a Councillor, Mayor and a politician (Upper House Member for the Western Province 1924-1940). He was a founding member of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill Company, concerned with the establishment of the Nestles Factory at Dennington and a Warrnambool Hospital committee member and Chairman for over 30 years. The Jean Buick Saltau Maternity Ward and Marcus Saltau House at the Warrnambool Hospital survived as important community buildings for many years. This little booklet is of high significance as it is connected to two important Warrnambool people of the past – the Rev. William Gray Dixon and Marcus Saltau. It is the only Gray Dixon piece of writing that the Historical Society possesses and it is of double significance when it is noted that Marcus Saltau, the owner of the booklet was a friend of Gray Dixon’s, and was also a most important person in Warrnambool’s history. This is a soft-cover booklet of 22 pages. The cover which is completely detached and very torn is grey-coloured with dark blue and grey ornamental scrolls and shields around the title of the book. The book contains a portrait of John Calvin, three black and white photographs of places in Geneva, the music of a song, ‘The Marseillaise of the Reformation’ and some verse. The book was stapled but the staples have been removed. The pages are made of lightweight parchment paper. The illustrations have been glued in. The text is a publication of an address given by the author, Rev. W. Gray Dixon to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1909. Front Cover: ‘John Calvin and the Modern World, Rev. W. Gray Dixon, M.A., Price Sixpence’ Inscription on first page: ‘To Marcus Saltau, Esq. with the esteem & affection of the Author, Auckland, 9th February 1910’ rev. w. gray dixon, marcus saltau, warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Worsted Preparing & Spinning, 1923
... . Wendouree Woollen Mills Warrnambool Woollen Mill History ...This book is a technical book that was originally from the Wendouree Woollen Mills but latterly was part of a collection of books owned by the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. The Wendouree Woollen Mills in Ballarat began in 1870 as a flour mill and became the Doveton Woollen Mill in 1877. In 1918 it became the Myer Woollen Mill (Myer Emporium ownership) and in the 1920s it was a knitting mill. After Myer sold the mill it was known as Wendouree Woollen Mill but it closed in 1975. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill in Harris Street, Warrnambool was established in 1910 on the site of an earlier woollen mill destroyed by fire in 1882. It was a successful business for many years and closed in 2000 after 90 years of operations but by that time it had been bought by successive companies including the multinational company Dunlop. In 1968 the Warrnambool Woollen Mills (Dunlop era) purchased Wendouree Woollen Mills and transferred much of its operations to Warrnambool until the Ballarat mill was closed in 1975. This explains why a Wendouree Woollen Mill book was in the Warrnambool Woollen Mill building when it closed. This book is of some interest as a good example of technical books produced in the early 1920s. It would have been well-used by woollen mills workers and foremen at the time. It is also of interest as it comes from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and so it is a memento of a most important and influential business in Warrnambool in the 20th century. A great number of local people were employed at this mill over the years and it enjoyed for many years a national reputation for quality products. This is a hard cover book with a dark blue cover and gold lettering on the front cover and the spine. The title of the book is printed in an ornate script and is underlined with two gold lines. The book has 277 pages commencing with page 273 as the book is Volume Two of this title. The book, about wool combing was written by Fred Bradbury. It has a Preface, a Contents page and fifteen chapters commencing with Chapter 21 and ending with Chapter 35, an Index and several pages of advertisements for other technical books. The book has several black and white photographs of machinery and illustrations and sketches demonstrating mechanical and technical processes. The book has some small stains on the front cover.Front Cover: ‘Worsted Preparing and Spinning (Wool Combing) by Fred Bradbury’ Spine: ‘Worsted Preparing and Spinning, Vol11- Bradbury – F.King & Sons Ld., Halifax, England’. Inside in two places: stamp of Wendouree Woollen Mills Pty Ltd wendouree woollen mills, warrnambool woollen mill, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, The Stawell Woollen Mill, 2013
... on the Bennett family history and the history of the Stawell Woollen... history and the history of the Stawell Woollen Mills. The Bennett ...This book, written by Graeme Bennett, gives information on the Bennett family history and the history of the Stawell Woollen Mills. The Bennett family was associated with the textile industry for more than 200 years. The book gives information on John Edward Bennett (1862-1928) who, in 1909 became the first manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. This mill opened in 1910 and closed in 2000 and was a dominant business, known throughout Australia for its woollen blankets. John Bennett was a highly-successful manager at the Warrnambool Woollen Mill from 1909 until his death in 1928. His son, who was the assistant manager at the mill, left in 1926 to take over the Stawell Woollen Mill.This book is of considerable interest as it contains valuable information on the author’s grandfather, John Edward Bennett, important in Warrnambool’s history as the first manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill, a prominent business in Warrnambool for 90 years.This is a soft cover book of 384 pages. The front cover has a mottled cream and black background with black lettering and a colour photograph of a painting of the Stawell Woollen Mill. The back cover and spine have the same mottled pattern with black lettering. The book has 22 chapters and several colour and black and white photographs. john e bennett, warrnambool woollen mill, stawell woollen mill -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Folder, Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co Ltd, Warrnambool Woollen Mill, 1950s
... history of warrnambool The Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co. Ltd. South ...This folder contains photographs, advertisements and a sample of a piece of blanket from the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. This mill was officially opened in South Warrnambool in 1910 following the establishment of a local public company. The first manager was John Bennett from Yorkshire, England. The operations of the mill expanded with new buildings enabling the business to double in size by 1915. In the 1940s the factory was employing 700 people. In 1968 the factory was sold to Dunlop Australia but was sold again in 1982 to Onkaparinga Woollen Company. In 1983 Mcquarie Worsteds took over the factory with the business then known as Warrnambool Textiles. In 2000 the mill closed and most of the buildings were later demolished for a housing estate. This item is an attractive and informative memento of one of Warrnambool’s most important businesses of the past. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill operated for 90 years and employed many local people. The photographs are of particular interest.This is a rectangular-shaped sheet of buff-coloured lightweight cardboard. It has been folded twice to create six pages in a folder. Three pages contain black and white photographs of the woollen mill operations and two pages contain advertising material with black and white images. One page has a cream blanket piece of material attached to the page by two staples and this has the brand name stitched onto the right hand corner This piece of blanket also has a paper guarantee card attached by staples. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co. Ltd. South Warrnambool The 100% Wool Warrnambool Super Blanket Made in Australia warrnambool woollen mill, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Journal - Edward Vidler News Cuttings, News Cuttings, early 20th century
This journal of cuttings was compiled by Edward Vidler (1863-1942), a prominent publisher, journalist and author in Victoria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The journal contains cuttings from the Warrnambool Standard and other newspapers and other printed material, mostly from the 1906-1908 years with some cuttings from the 1930s. These cuttings therefore mostly concern Vidler's activities in Warrnambool - his involvement with the Warrnambool and District Progress League and the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures He was actively concerned with the establishment of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and the Nestles Factory at Dennington , produced the key historical publication, Warrnambool Past and Present, Sixty Years of Progress 1847-1907 and was the person responsible for the production of the Warrnambool Pioneer Honour Board with its portraits of 204 male pioneers of Warrnambool and District. This journal is of great significance as it contains important information, hitherto unknown, about the life and work of Edward Vidler. a key figure in the early 20th century history and development of Warrnambool and district.This is a collection of newspaper cuttings, letters, reports, leaflets, flyers etc. inserted into a bound journal, quarto size. The cover, made of composite material, is black with gold printing on the front cover. Most cuttings are pasted but some are inserted into the margin and some are loose.The A-Z index at the front is unused.edward vidler newspaper cuttings -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph - Framed photograph of John Bennett, John E. Bennett, 1926
... manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. He went back to Yorkshire ...This photograph was taken when John Bennett was the Chairman of the North Western Woollen Mills Company of Stawell in 1926. English born John Bennett came to Warrnambool in1909 and was the first manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill. He went back to Yorkshire in England to purchase equipment before the opening of the Mill in 1910. He was manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill for nearly 20 years, finishing in 1928 and dying in the same year. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill was a major 20th Century industry, closing in the year 2000.This photograph is of considerable significance as a memento of the first manager of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill one of the most important industries in Warrnambool's history.This is a black and white photograph in a circular wooden frame, with a wooden mount covered with a concave glass. It has a plaque at the base with white printing.John E. Bennett First Chairman of Directors North Western Woollen Mills Pty. Ltd. 1926warrnambool woollen mill -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Ledger Woollen Mill - Departmental Weekly Reports, 1930s
... Woollen Mill History of Warrnambool Edge of book: ‘Records ...This is an exercise book, probably purchased from a local stationers, which was used at the Warrnambool Woollen Mill in the 1930s to record weekly operations in each of the Mill’s departments. The Warrnambool Woollen Mill was established in 1910 in South Warrnambool by a local company, with the building erected on a site that formerly housed another woollen mill destroyed by fire in 1882. The Warrnambool Woollen Company operated successfully for many years with over 700 employees in the 1940s and a good national reputation for quality goods. It made blankets and other woollen goods and was the first company in Australia to manufacture electric blankets. In the 1960s the mill was sold to the Dunlop Company and for the next thirty years it was bought and sold several times, finally closing in 2000 after 90 years of operation. This exercise book is of some importance as it belonged to the Warrnambool Woollen Mill, a dominant and important industry in Warrnambool for most of the 20th century. Many present and past residents of Warrnambool and district were employed at the Mill. It is one of many items in our collection that outlines the mill’s day-to-day operations and contains information that may be useful to researchers. This is an exercise book which belonged to the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and appears to be two exercise books joined together as there is a black cover in the middle of the pages. The original black covers at the front and back are missing. The pages are lined in blue and most used pages have ruled red lines. The entries are in black ink and include the date and other information on the processes of the spinning, carding, scouring etc. The page edges on the right have been serrated in an oval shape to make tabs for the various departments in the Mill – Engineers, Scouring. Dyeing, Warehouse etc. and the book contains weekly entries regarding Mill operations from 1930 to 1936.Edge of book: ‘Records’warrnambool woollen mill, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Booklet, Scrap Book Warrnambool Woollen Mill, Late 20th century
In 1869, the Warrnambool Meat Preserving Company commenced their business on the site, where it operated until 1875 when it was sold to the directors of the Warrnambool Woolen Mill Company. After being destroyed by fire in 1882 it wasn’t until 1910 that the Warrnambool Chamber of Commerce was approached by Marcus Saltau and Peter McGennan to invest in a new mill. The original directors were James Dickson, P J McGennan, Robert Swinton, M Saltau, and J W Younger. In 1955 the Warrnambool Woollen Mill formed a partnership with the Wangaratta Woollen Mills. Dunlop bought the mill in 1968. From that time until its closure in 2000 it had a number of different owners, the last being the Smith Family Industries.This book contains a large number of labels some of which would have been sewn to the corner of the many blankets which were manufactured over the long history of the Woollen Mill.Some are cloth of a satin type. Some state care instructions and some have been made under other name brands such as Myer, Patersons and Nile. There is also a range of types of blankets such as travel and picnic rugs, baby blankets.Some are pure wool, others are a blend of synthetic and wool, mohair. In the latter stages of its operation, under the ownership of the Smith family , recycled woollen product was produced.This is an interesting collection of labels which were produced and collected over a long period of time and therefore provide a valuable insight into different styles and variety of the blankets produced by the Warrnambool Woollen mill which played a large part in the social and employment history of the city for nearly all of the 20th century. The different styles and colours provide a snapshot of design and artistic styles of the period. Large Spirax folder with yellow and white check patterned cover with dark blue writing.A Warrnambool label in gold,black and white is glued to front cover . Back cover is grey heavier card. The white pages have a large number of labels which relate to the Warrnambool Woollen Mill . Some are stapled and others are glued.Genuine drawing cartridge 48 sheets . Made in Indonesia.warrnambool, warrnambool woollenmill,warrnambool blankets warrnambool blankets labels, -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Textile - Woollen Blanket, Warrnambool Woollen Mill, Circa 1949
The first Warrnambool to Melbourne cycling race was held in October 1895. 24 riders started with only 7 finishing the race. W. Nicol was the winner of the inaugural race. Two months later on 14/12/1895 the race was run in reverse. For the ensuing 43 years it was mainly Melbourne to Warrnambool. Since 1939 it has been run mainly Melbourne to Warrnambool. The prize of this blanket was 2nd prize to E. Ion of Tasmania in October 1949. The prize itself, A Warrnambool Blankets Tartan rug was made at the Warrnambool Woollen Mill in Harris St Warrnambool Early efforts to establish a woollen Mill in Warrnambool commenced with an early mill on the Merri at Woodford in 1874 but the site proved unsuitable and was financially struggling. The decision was made to move plant and and machinery to the old meat preserving factory in South Warrnambool The plant and equipment was sold to Mr Robert Hood of Sherwood on the Hopkins River East Warrnambool who carried on the venture until fire destroyed the building in 1882, The site lay idle until a group of local businessmen raised 40000 pounds to establish the mill in 1910. It continued to trade well through the early and mid 20th century. Dunlop brought the mill in 1968 and there was a slow downturn with numerous owners until it closed in 2000. The site passed into private hands in 2003.Both the Warrnambool Woollen Mill and the Melbourne to Warrnambool Road Race are a significant part of local history. The Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling road race remains one of the premier sporting events in Australia. It commenced in 1895 Maroon and red block check with black and white check lines on front with plain maroon back. Fringed on two sides. Grey cotton label with The Warrnambool Woollen Mill Co Limited in top Left hand side of label, Victory Rug diagonally in blue Guaranteed All WOOL Made in Australia in bottom RH corner of label. Owner M bottom of label. 1949 Mr. Ernie Ion” handwritten in black pen.warrnambool, warrnambool woollen mill, marcus saltau, w. nicol