Part of a collection of books, fabric samples and documents from the working life of Ray Smith. Ray began his career at the age of 15, working at the Albion Woollen Mills in Geelong in 1953. Over the next five decades, Ray furthered his education in textile design, weaving design, knitting and later computer aided design, including qualifications from Gordon Textile College, City and Guilds of London Institute, The Textile Institute, Melbourne Institute of Textiles and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). After ten years at Albion Woollen Mills, Ray went on to hold fabric design positions at Prestige Fabrics and Yarra Falls, working up to management roles in both the Weaving and Fabric Design Divisions, and then as Product Development Manager at Yarra Falls until 2000. Ray shares some career highlights below: In 1977 and 1978 I won the Wool Corporation’s Celsius 30 Awards as Yarra Falls Designer. (See photos attached.) These awards came with study trips to the major Textile Centres and Trade Fairs around the world. This was proven to be beneficial and Yarra Falls sent me overseas every year for the next 22 years. On stopovers in Hong Kong we appointed an agent and took part in Textile Trade Fairs at Interstoff Asia and exhibited designs in 1991, 92, 93, 94. I created a pattern book for a chain of shops called “Kwun KeeTailors” for their customers to select our fabrics to be made up into suits for the tourists. I also had several trips to New York to try to export to America with some success. I was commissioned by the Melbourne College of Textiles to write a Woven Textile Design Course to be taught under the outreach program. This was eventually translated into Spanish to be used by developing textile industries in South America.Black two armed binder folder with over one hundred pages of typed paper in plastic sleeves. Documents contain details of sixty eight topics for Woven Textile Design Course. The folder has a label attached across the top edge, and a business card attached with tape to the front.Front [printed label]: WOVEN TEXTILE DESIGN COURSE WRITTEN FOR THE MELBOURNE COLLEGE OF TEXTILES BY RAY SMITHray smith, yarra falls, mills, textile design, fabric design, product development, wool corporation, textile design course, coursework, melbourne college of textiles, study, students

Student handbook for the Melbourne College of Textiles, Pascoe Vale, 1982.A5 size paper back book, red cover with black text and white logos. 46 pages.textile industry - education, melbourne college of textiles, tafe

Suit pants, cream, natural, wool. Part of the three piece suit which set the "Sheep to suit" record by Melbourne College of Textiles in 1982Part of the 'Sheep to Suit' event outfit.A product of the Clothing School, MELBOURNE COLLEGE OF TEXTILES/ PURE WOOLtextile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles australian wool corporation sunbeam corporation limited, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

Suit jacket, cream, natural, wool and cream silk lining. Part of the three piece suit which set the "Sheep to suit" record by Melbourne College of Textiles in 1982Part of the 'Sheep to Suit' event outfit.A product of the Clothing School, MELBOURNE COLLEGE OF TEXTILES/ PURE WOOLtextile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles australian wool corporation sunbeam corporation limited, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

"Sheep to suit" -The Melbourne College of Textiles, 1984. The story of the Melbourne College of Textile's World Record of 1hr, 32 minutes, 33.52 sec on June 24, 1982, recorded by the Guinness Book of RecordsBooklet describing the 'Sheep to Suit' event for the Guiness Book of World Records.This record was broken in 1987 by "The Melbourne College of Textiles" for the Japanese programme "These Wonderful People" Time 1 hour 27 Minutes 59.32 secs. Time difference = 6 Minutes 04.13 secstextile production fashion shearing weaving sewing textile mills textile mills, melbourne college of textiles australian wool corporation sunbeam corporation limited, carding, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing, textile mills

"Sheep to suit" -The Melbourne College of Textiles, 1984. The story of the Melbourne College of Textile's World Record of 1hr, 32 minutes, 33.52 sec on June 24, 1982, recorded by the Guinness Book of RecordsBooklet describing the 'Sheep to Suit' event for the Guiness Book of World Records.textile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles australian wool corporation sunbeam corporation limited, carding, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

Suit vest, cream, natural, wool and cream silk. Part of the three piece suit which set the "Sheep to suit" record by Melbourne College of Textiles in 1982.Part of the 'Sheep to Suit' event outfit.textile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles australian wool corporation sunbeam corporation limited, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

Grey jumper, which formed part of the uniform for the 1987 Melbourne College of Textiles "Sheep to Suit" team and which was worn by John Hawthorne who took part in the event.Worn by participant in the 'Sheep to suit' event. Worn by participant in the 'Sheep to suit' event.Textiles/TAFE [Japanese characters]textile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles, carding, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

Black track pants, which formed part of the uniform for the 1987 Melbourne College of Textiles "Sheep to Suit" team and which were worn by John Hawthorne who took part in the event.Worn by participant in the 'Sheep to suit' event.textile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles, carding, spinning, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

The Orchid Tables were on display as part of the Ten Years of Dowel Jones exhibition at the National Wool Museum in 2024. The exhibition label reads: Sitting just outside this exhibition in the National Wool Museum is a 1910 Axminster Jacquard Carpet Loom. This loom was operating at Brintons factory in Geelong from 1960 to 1975, and then at the Melbourne College of Textiles, until it was donated to the museum. In the 1990's the museum commissioned an exclusive pattern called the Manor House Rug. Based on earlier designs from Brintons UK Persian Rug Archive Library, the museum continues to make this rug through the expertise of Loom Technician Michael Farquhar. The Manor House Rug features a central medallion with floral pattern. Working with illustrator Beci Orpin, and referencing Margaret MacDonald & Angair's book 'Orchids of the Anglesea District', we identified regional orchids. By a process of removal and addition, the original floral medallion was replaced with local species as decorative motif. Ten Year of Dowel Jones presents three altered Manor House Rugs, each with different orchids tufted in wool and placed in the centre of each rug. The rugs have been attached by cotton thread to three table frames at different heights to create the Orchid Tables.Three tables consisting of powder coated steel frames, with a woven carpet top. The table tops are made from wool with a jute backing, and feature a red, green, blue, black and cream floral design with an orchid in the centre. Each table is a different height.dowel jones, ten years of dowel jones, national wool museum, axminster loom, carpet, manor house rug, orchids, anglesea, design, art, furniture, beci orpin, brintons, geelong, melbourne college of textiles

Business shirt, gold with collar, long sleeves and cuffs. Part of the outfit to go with the "Sheep to Suit" record attempt, 1982.Part of the 'Sheep to Suit' event outfit.sheraton/ styled in/ Permanent Press/ KORATRON/ 65% polyester/ 35% cotton /15 1/2textile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

Neck tie, part of the outfit for the "Sheep to suit" record attempt, Melbourne School of Textiles,1982.Part of the 'Sheep to Suit' event outfit.Gary David/ highest quality/MADE IN AUSTRALIAtextile production fashion shearing weaving sewing, melbourne college of textiles, highlights of the national wool museum: from sheep to suit - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), textile production, fashion, shearing, weaving, sewing

This apron was designed for the Ballarat Apron Festival by local designer Clare Schreenan of Clasch Designs Ballarat. The tartan fabric was designed by Art Gallery of Ballarat for the 2014 exhibition “For Auld Lang Syne: Images of Scottish Australia, from the First Fleet to Federation”, and is officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. The colours are highly significant: grey being chosen for the basalt plains on which Ballarat is built upon; Blue and white representing the Eureka Flag; and yellow for the gold that has made Ballarat so famous. Born in Ballarat, Schreenan attended Loreto College before studying fashion at Melbourne College of Textiles. She has worked extensively in Sydney, travelling to Paris, London and Los Angeles for work projects. She returned to Ballarat in 2006, launching Clash Design. Featuring the official, highly symbolic Ballarat tartan, and made by highly renowned local designer Clare Schreenan, this contemporary apron is of local significance to the Ballarat community. Grey, blue, white and yellow wool tartan fabric apron with asymmetrical design. Velco closures on back with zipper detailing. ballarat, tartan, apron

The Axminster Carpet Loom has been set up as a focal point in the centre of the National Wool Museum. The loom was originally built by Brintons in England around 1910 and was initially operating in Geelong in 1960. Brintons designed and built most of their own looms and ancillary equipment. When superseded in 1975 the loom was donated to the Melbourne College of Textiles for weaving training. The College has now donated the loom to the National Wool Museum and Brintons engineering staff has restored it to full working condition. This loom is known as an Axminster gripper loom. The gripper system was invented by Brintons in 1890 and operates using a gripper shaped like a birds beak. This grips the yarn, the yarn is then cut and the gripper swings down to place the tuft into the woven backing. This particular loom also uses a jacquard system for weaving colours. In jacquard weaving, punched cards are used to instruct the loom as to which colour to use. The system was invented by Joseph Jacquard, a silk weaver from Lyon, and was introduced in 1804. It revolutionised pattern weaving as it had the capacity to create intricate patterns through the use of the cards. By 1833 there were approximately 100,000 power-looms used in Great Britain that had been influenced by Jacquards invention. Joseph Jacquard died in 1834. Charles Babbage was later to adapt Jacquards punch-card system to produce a calculator that was the forerunner of todays methods of computer programmingAxminster carpet loom featuring over 1000 Jacquard punch cards and over 100 bobbins of different colours of wool.loom carpet wool, geelong woolbrokers' association, geelong, auction

This film features Loom Technician Michael Farquhar demonstrating how the Axminster Carpet Loom works, at the National Wool Museum. The Axminster Carpet Loom has been set up as a focal point in the centre of the National Wool Museum. The loom was originally built by Brintons in England around 1910 and was initially operating in Geelong in 1960. Brintons designed and built most of their own looms and ancillary equipment. When superseded in 1975 the loom was donated to the Melbourne College of Textiles for weaving training. The College has now donated the loom to the National Wool Museum and Brintons engineering staff has restored it to full working condition. This loom is known as an Axminster gripper loom. The gripper system was invented by Brintons in 1890 and operates using a gripper shaped like a bird's beak. This grips the yarn, the yarn is then cut and the gripper swings down to place the tuft into the woven backing. This particular loom also uses a jacquard system for weaving colours. In jacquard weaving, punched cards are used to instruct the loom as to which colour to use. The system was invented by Joseph Jacquard, a silk weaver from Lyon, and was introduced in 1804. It revolutionised pattern weaving as it had the capacity to create intricate patterns through the use of the cards. By 1833 there were approximately 100,000 power-looms used in Great Britain that had been influenced by Jacquard's invention. Joseph Jacquard died in 1834. Charles Babbage was later to adapt Jacquard's punch-card system to produce a calculator that was the forerunner of todays methods of computer programming.Digital film featuring colour footage, audio and animated graphics. michael farquhar, loom technician, axminster carpet loom, brintons, geelong, textile industry, machinery, weaving, restoration, gripper, jacquard, punch cards

Part of a collection of books, fabric samples and documents from the working life of Ray Smith. Ray began his career at the age of 15, working at the Albion Woollen Mills in Geelong in 1953. Over the next five decades, Ray furthered his education in textile design, weaving design, knitting and later computer aided design, including qualifications from Gordon Textile College, City and Guilds of London Institute, The Textile Institute, Melbourne Institute of Textiles and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). After ten years at Albion Woollen Mills, Ray went on to hold fabric design positions at Prestige Fabrics and Yarra Falls, working up to management roles in both the Weaving and Fabric Design Divisions, and then as Product Development Manager at Yarra Falls until 2000. Ray shares some career highlights below: In 1977 and 1978 I won the Wool Corporation’s Celsius 30 Awards as Yarra Falls Designer. (See photos attached.) These awards came with study trips to the major Textile Centres and Trade Fairs around the world. This was proven to be beneficial and Yarra Falls sent me overseas every year for the next 22 years. On stopovers in Hong Kong we appointed an agent and took part in Textile Trade Fairs at Interstoff Asia and exhibited designs in 1991, 92, 93, 94. I created a pattern book for a chain of shops called “Kwun KeeTailors” for their customers to select our fabrics to be made up into suits for the tourists. I also had several trips to New York to try to export to America with some success. I was commissioned by the Melbourne College of Textiles to write a Woven Textile Design Course to be taught under the outreach program. This was eventually translated into Spanish to be used by developing textile industries in South America.Card folder featuring pale blue and white clouds and sky motifs, with a thermometer on the cover. Folder holds eleven circular black cards, eight have wool fabric samples attached.Front [printed]: Celsius 30 / SPRING SUMMER / 74 / SPRING SUMMER / A Woolblendmark fabric developed especially for summer.ray smith, yarra falls, mills, textile design, fabric design, product development, wool corporation, fabric samples, 1970s fashion

Part of a collection of books, fabric samples and documents from the working life of Ray Smith. Ray began his career at the age of 15, working at the Albion Woollen Mills in Geelong in 1953. Over the next five decades, Ray furthered his education in textile design, weaving design, knitting and later computer aided design, including qualifications from Gordon Textile College, City and Guilds of London Institute, The Textile Institute, Melbourne Institute of Textiles and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). After ten years at Albion Woollen Mills, Ray went on to hold fabric design positions at Prestige Fabrics and Yarra Falls, working up to management roles in both the Weaving and Fabric Design Divisions, and then as Product Development Manager at Yarra Falls until 2000. Ray shares some career highlights below: In 1977 and 1978 I won the Wool Corporation’s Celsius 30 Awards as Yarra Falls Designer. (See photos attached.) These awards came with study trips to the major Textile Centres and Trade Fairs around the world. This was proven to be beneficial and Yarra Falls sent me overseas every year for the next 22 years. On stopovers in Hong Kong we appointed an agent and took part in Textile Trade Fairs at Interstoff Asia and exhibited designs in 1991, 92, 93, 94. I created a pattern book for a chain of shops called “Kwun KeeTailors” for their customers to select our fabrics to be made up into suits for the tourists. I also had several trips to New York to try to export to America with some success. I was commissioned by the Melbourne College of Textiles to write a Woven Textile Design Course to be taught under the outreach program. This was eventually translated into Spanish to be used by developing textile industries in South America.Folded map attached inside a card folder, featuring a map of Scotland with tartan design and red and black text on the cover.Front [printed]: BARTHOLOMEW / the tartan map / with list of septs of the clansray smith, yarra falls, mills, textile design, fabric design, product development, wool corporation, map, tartan, scotland

Part of a collection of books, fabric samples and documents from the working life of Ray Smith. Ray began his career at the age of 15, working at the Albion Woollen Mills in Geelong in 1953. Over the next five decades, Ray furthered his education in textile design, weaving design, knitting and later computer aided design, including qualifications from Gordon Textile College, City and Guilds of London Institute, The Textile Institute, Melbourne Institute of Textiles and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). After ten years at Albion Woollen Mills, Ray went on to hold fabric design positions at Prestige Fabrics and Yarra Falls, working up to management roles in both the Weaving and Fabric Design Divisions, and then as Product Development Manager at Yarra Falls until 2000. Ray shares some career highlights below: In 1977 and 1978 I won the Wool Corporation’s Celsius 30 Awards as Yarra Falls Designer. (See photos attached.) These awards came with study trips to the major Textile Centres and Trade Fairs around the world. This was proven to be beneficial and Yarra Falls sent me overseas every year for the next 22 years. On stopovers in Hong Kong we appointed an agent and took part in Textile Trade Fairs at Interstoff Asia and exhibited designs in 1991, 92, 93, 94. I created a pattern book for a chain of shops called “Kwun KeeTailors” for their customers to select our fabrics to be made up into suits for the tourists. I also had several trips to New York to try to export to America with some success. I was commissioned by the Melbourne College of Textiles to write a Woven Textile Design Course to be taught under the outreach program. This was eventually translated into Spanish to be used by developing textile industries in South America.Fifty two page hard cover book featuring yellow and brown images and text on the front and back cover showing scenes from Geelong. The book features sepia toned printed photographs and brown text.Front [printed]: EARLY GEELONG / DO YOU REMEMBER?ray smith, yarra falls, mills, textile design, fabric design, geelong, geelong advertiser

Part of a collection of books, fabric samples and documents from the working life of Ray Smith. Ray began his career at the age of 15, working at the Albion Woollen Mills in Geelong in 1953. Over the next five decades, Ray furthered his education in textile design, weaving design, knitting and later computer aided design, including qualifications from Gordon Textile College, City and Guilds of London Institute, The Textile Institute, Melbourne Institute of Textiles and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). After ten years at Albion Woollen Mills, Ray went on to hold fabric design positions at Prestige Fabrics and Yarra Falls, working up to management roles in both the Weaving and Fabric Design Divisions, and then as Product Development Manager at Yarra Falls until 2000. Ray shares some career highlights below: In 1977 and 1978 I won the Wool Corporation’s Celsius 30 Awards as Yarra Falls Designer. (See photos attached.) These awards came with study trips to the major Textile Centres and Trade Fairs around the world. This was proven to be beneficial and Yarra Falls sent me overseas every year for the next 22 years. On stopovers in Hong Kong we appointed an agent and took part in Textile Trade Fairs at Interstoff Asia and exhibited designs in 1991, 92, 93, 94. I created a pattern book for a chain of shops called “Kwun KeeTailors” for their customers to select our fabrics to be made up into suits for the tourists. I also had several trips to New York to try to export to America with some success. I was commissioned by the Melbourne College of Textiles to write a Woven Textile Design Course to be taught under the outreach program. This was eventually translated into Spanish to be used by developing textile industries in South America.A collection of fabric samples from Yarra Falls, including twenty three sets of woollen fabric samples on black backing card, three sets of woollen fabric samples on white backing card and one Yarra Falls fabric label.PURE NEW WOOL / Yarra Falls / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIAray smith, yarra falls, mills, textile design, fabric design, geelong, geelong advertiser, fabric samples

Awarded to Donald Neil Symons for excellence in Scripture during his final year at Ballarat College. Neil was educated at Ballarat College (Dux 1933) and Ormond College, Melbourne University. He became a Clothing industry leader and was Fletcher Jones' distinguished successor as chief executive of the FJ organisation, and a prominent advocate for the Australian textile and clothing industries, decentralised industry and government support of employee share ownership schemes. Small, maroon leather-bound book with gold title and detailing on spine and gold school crest on front cover; plain endpapers; bookplate inside front cover.Book plate inside front covers: school crest / Ballarat College / Sixth Form / Scripture Prize / (Gift of Mrs T R Cairns) / Awarded to / D N Symons / A Richardson, BA / December 1930 Principaldonald-neil-symons, fletcher-jones, cairns

Awarded to Donald Neil Symons for excellence in Scripture during 1926 at Ballarat College. Neil was educated at Ballarat College (Dux 1933) and Ormond College, Melbourne University. He became a Clothing industry leader and was Fletcher Jones' distinguished successor as chief executive of the FJ organisation, and a prominent advocate for the Australian textile and clothing industries, decentralised industry and government support of employee share ownership schemes.Thick, maroon leather-bound book with gold lettering on spine, black wording and detail and gold school crest on front cover; bookplate inside front coverBookplate inside front cover:School crest / Ballarat College / IVA Form / Scripture Prize / (The gift of Mrs Cairns) / Awarded to / Neil Symons / A Richardson BA / December 1926 Principaldonald-neil-symons, cairns, scripture, book prize

Awarded to Donald Neil Symons for excellence in Scripture during 1926 at Ballarat College. Neil was educated at Ballarat College (Dux 1933) and Ormond College, Melbourne University. He became a Clothing industry leader and was Fletcher Jones' distinguished successor as chief executive of the FJ organisation, and a prominent advocate for the Australian textile and clothing industries, decentralised industry and government support of employee share ownership schemes.Medium-sized, maroon, leather-bound book with gold-lettering and decoration on spine and gold school crest on front cover; bookplate inside front coverBookplate inside front cover: School crest / Ballarat College / Sixth-Lower Form / Dux Prize / Awarded to / D N Symons / A Richardson BA / December 1930 Principaldonald-neil-symons, dux, 1930s, fletcher jones

Awarded to Donald Neil Symons for excellence in Scripture during 1926 at Ballarat College. Neil was educated at Ballarat College (Dux 1933) and Ormond College, Melbourne University. He became a Clothing industry leader and was Fletcher Jones' distinguished successor as chief executive of the FJ organisation, and a prominent advocate for the Australian textile and clothing industries, decentralised industry and government support of employee share ownership schemes.Small, maroon, leather-bound book with gold lettering and detail on spine and gold crest on front cover; book plate inside front coverBook plate inside front cover: School crest / Ballarat College / Third Prize / (Lower division) / Awarded to / N Symons / A Richardson BA / December 1927 Principaldonald-neil-symons, fletcher jones, 1920s, book prize