Roger de Stoop came to Australia during the Second World War when the de Stoop spinning & weaving factory in Belgium was closed during the German occupation. He had previously met Dick Best, an Australian who wanted to establish a textile factory in Australia and in 1950 they built a factory at Blackburn North importing the weaving looms and many of their skilled workers from Belgium. Housing for the workers was built near the factory.Black and white photograph of Belgian family groups in front of one of the houses erected for the de Stoop workers. Roger de Stoop is in the centre of the photograph in a dark suit and tie.de stoop, roger. de stoop aust pty ltd. de stoop and best textile factory. weaving mills. belgians in australia

Roger de Stoop was born in Flanders, Belgium in 1912 and died in Australia on 18th April 1999. The de Stoop textile factory was closed due to German occupation and when Roger de Stoop received an offer from Australian Dick Best to begin a a partnership in similar venture in Australia, he agreed, bringing looms and skilled workers with him. The company was the first to produce Belgian damask ticking in Australia. The firm was sold to the British firm, Smith and Nephew in 1960.One coloured and one black and white head shot of Roger de Stoop wearing a suit and tie.de stoop, roger. de stoop and best textile factory. belgians in australia

Roger de Stoop was born in 1912 in Flanders, Belguim. He migrated to Australia and set up a mattress ticking factory in Blackburn North in 1950.The company produced damask ticking. de Stoop sponsored Belgian migrants to work in his factory and built housing for them close to the factory. He sold the business in the 1960's to Smith and Nephew but continued to manage the manage the business until 1966Black and white photograph of Roger de Stoop showing the Prince and Princess of Luxembourg around his Blackburn North textile factory which was established in 1950. Bales of ticking in foreground. Staff standing, guests seated.de stoop, roger, de stoop textile factory, blackburn north, textiles, prince of luxembourg, princess of luxembourg

Roger de Stoop had the land cleared in 1952 and building started in 1953. He and his family moved in in 1954. The house has now been demolished but it was about 35 squares, was made of timber with blue slate roof, the slates having come from Belgium. Roger de Stoop had his outside timber walls painted in a dark colour.Black and white photocopy of house built by Roger de Stoop on land in Blackburn North (Henry Street - later 35 Middlefield Road). The house was called Middlefield House by local people.de stoop. roger. middlefield house

The Wonthaggi Cotton Mills operated in May 1958. The government and Wonthaggi businesspeople had each contributed 15,000 Sterling pounds to have the mills established, in line with the government's efforts to decentralize secondary industries. Mr Richard Best attended the opening.Black and white photograph of the front office of the de Stoop and Best Aust Pty Ltd cotton mill in Wonthaggi Victoria.de stoop roger, best, dick, weaving mills, de stoop and best, aust pty ltd

Belgian, Roger de Stoop, plans a spinning and weaving factory at Blackburn. He plans many innovative amenities to keep his staff happy. Also another article - 'The Belgians in Australia' gives a brief history of Roger, 1950 - 1975. 'The Belgians in Australia' gives a brief history of Roger, 1950 - 1975.textiles, de stoop textile factory, de stoop, roger

Black and white photo of Mr. Roger de Stoop with Prince of Luxembourgprince of luxembourg, de stoop, roger

Middlefield House 35 Middlefield Drive Blackburn North. De Stoop family home.de stoop family, middlefield house

Black and white photo of Mr. Roger de Stoop and Prince and Princess of Luxembourg inspecting machineryprince of luxembourg, princess of luxembourg, de stoop, roger

Black and white photo of Mr. Roger de Stoop and Prince and Princess of Luxembourg with workers in factoryprince of luxembourg, princess of luxembourg, de stoop, roger

Official party inspecting living quarters of weaving mills. Mr. Roger de Stoop with Princess of Luxembourgprincess of luxembourg, de stoop, roger

Black and white photo of drawing room in home of Mr. Roger de Stoop during visit of Prince and Princess of Luxembourgprince of luxembourg, princess of luxembourg, de stoop, roger

Black and white photo of Mr. Roger de Stoop, Middlefield Drive, Nunawading. Interior of drawing room. Present are the Prince and Princess of Luxembourg.prince of luxembourg, princess of luxembourg, de stoop

Advertisement for sale of land at Best Estate, Blackburn North. Part of the original land holdings of R. de Stoop and R. Best of British Fur Co.sale of land at Best Estate, Blackburn North. Part of the original land holdings of R. de Stoop and R. Best of British Fur Co.land subdivision, best estate, blackburn north, chapman street, middleborough road, joseph street, nestor grove, vivian street, de stoop, roger, best, richard, british fur company

Richard Best was an Australian Textile industry agent and Businessman. While travelling in Belgium he contacted the de Stoop family, textile manufacturers, whose business had been closed down by German occupation after the 2nd World War. They took up Dick Best's offer to relocate and join with him to set up a textile factory in Australia. Land was purchased in Blackburn North and when the de Stoop and Best Aust P/L traded, Dick best was in charge of marketing their products.2 Black and white photograph of the head and shoulders of Richard Best. He has a pair of glasses in his right hand(on smaller photocopy) Mr Dick Bestbest, richard, weaving mills, de stoop and best aust, p/l