Blanket label from the RSS Mill, Geelong for a Retsol rug.Retsol rug label from the RSS mill.THE GEELONG R.S.&S. WOOLLEN MILLS / PURE / WOOL / RETSOL RUGStextile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, retsol rugs, label, 1918: australians in france - exhibition (19/02/2000 - 30/04/2000) logo merino: sheep in australian art and design - exhibition (29/07/2000 - 04/02/2001)

Blanket label from the RSS Mill, Geelong for a Retsol rug.Retsol rug label from the RSS mill.THE GEELONG R.S.&S. WOOLLEN MILLS / PURE / WOOL / RETSOL RUGStextile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, retsol rugs, label, 1918: australians in france - exhibition (19/02/2000 - 30/04/2000) logo merino: sheep in australian art and design - exhibition (29/07/2000 - 04/02/2001)

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

'Retsol' brand travel rug produced by the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mill, Geelong. Retsol rugs were one of the specialities of the RSS Mill. This one was owned by Mrs A.T. Lucas who gave it to Running Stitch.RETSOLtextile production, textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill running stitch group, retsol rugs, running stitch collection, blankets, lucas, mrs a. t., geelong

Reference letter from Chief Designer of Retsol Mils, Geelong, Mr JW Callander about Mrs Anna Kiricenkovs, dated 3rd September 1975.Reference letter from Chief Designer of Retsol Mils, Geelong, Mr JW Callander about Mrs Anna Kiricenkovs, dated 3rd September 1975.textile industry textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, callander, mr john - returned soldiers and sailors mill, textile industry, textile mills

Manufactured by the Geelong Returned sailors and soldier mill. This is a RETSOL Buchanan blanket. It belonged to the donor parents who had family involved in WWI and WWII.Checked design woollen blacket with fringeretsol

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

Made by the Returned Soldiers & Sailors Mill in Geelong, post-1924. Rug was owned by the donor's extended family.Tartan rug with cream base, featuring pattern with blue, black, green, yellow and red. RETSOL label stitched on one corner. Name of rug is The Dress Steward. Label has stitched signature of Stan Savige.

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's - 1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn, and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows collaged text and graphics. Backing card has four holes in left side.front: WOOLLEN TEXTILES back: [handwritten] TITLE PRINTtextile industry, newtown, geelong, woollen mills, returned sailors and soldiers mill, veterans, co-operative, world war i, retsol, monarch, wool processing, photography, machinery, travel rug, fibres, norm holroyd, loom

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.31 page red book bound with metal pins containing fabric samples glued onto paper, with some printed text.cover: [printed] A FORECAST OF TEXTILE VOGUES / FOR THE COMING SEASON / FROM / R. S. & S. Woollen Mill. / Geelongr. s. & s mill, soldiers, sailors, geelong, war, wool, mill

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.25 page red book bound with metal pins containing fabric samples glued onto paper, with some printed text.cover: [printed] A FORECAST OF TEXTILE VOGUES / FOR THE COMING SEASON / FROM / R. S. & S. Woollen Mill. / Geelongr. s. & s mill, soldiers, sailors, geelong, war, wool, mill

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a building exterior with text. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 45r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man moving woollen fabrics on a trolley through a doorway. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 34r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man standing at a loom. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 19r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man operating wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 21r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 22r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a woman working at a loom. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 25r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man loading a wool bale onto a trailer for transport. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 1r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph showing wool fibres in detail.r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man opening a sliding door inside a factory. Backing card has four holes in left side.r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 4r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph showing machinery processing wool.r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a close up of wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 6r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man walking through a doorway inside a factory with time card racks to the right, and wool processing machinery in the background. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 7r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows wool processing machinery inside a factory. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 8r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows detail of woollen thread. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 17r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows wool on spools in storage compartments. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 16r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows a man walking down a stairwell. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 15r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric

One of thirty eight photographs from a photo album featuring images of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill in Newtown, Geelong. The images were taken between the 1960's-1970's by Norm Holroyd who worked at the mills. They were developed in his own private dark room and kept at his home for private viewing. The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Woollen Mill operated as a self-sufficient co-operative, funded and run by World War I veterans using their War Gratuity Bonds. The facility functioned as a complete raw-to-finished assembly line where raw fleece was brought on-site to be scoured, carded, dyed, spun into yarn and woven. It specialised in heavy worsted cloths, high-quality tweed, and its signature "Retsol" and "Monarch" pure-wool travelling rugs, later adapting its machinery to blend natural wool with artificial fibres as mid-century market demands shifted.Black and white photograph attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows detail of a loom. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 13r. s. & s mill, returned sailors and soldiers mill, newtown, geelong, world war i, soldiers, veterans, co-operative, textile industry, woollen mills, wool, worsted cloth, tweed, retsol, monarch, travel rugs, machinery, factory, working life, norm holroyd, photo album, photography, design, fabric