Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.One sided A4 sized leaflet showing images and text relating to the processing of wool from fibre into fabric.front: WOOL / PROCESSING / Two main systems are used to process wool from fibre into fabric.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, victoria wool processors, port phillip mills pty ltd, topmaking, career, wool industry, mills, leaflet

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 attached to cardboard backing with sticky tape. Image shows detail of wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 12r. 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 wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 11r. 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 wool processing machinery. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 10r. 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

Yarra Falls Limited: (wool processing): set of 14 cards each describing a process in turning fleeces into woolen cloth. These information packs were available to school students for project work from the 1960sSet of 14, 2 sided Cards with sample, description and photoswool, manufacturing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with three others taken in 1990 at the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd. This image shows the combing process.Colour photograph showing industrial wool processing machinery during the combing process.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, williamstown, combing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with three others taken in 1990 at the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd. This image shows the combing process.Colour photograph showing industrial wool processing machinery during the combing process.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, williamstown, combing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with three others taken in 1990 at the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd. This image shows the finishing process.Colour photograph showing industrial wool processing machinery during the finishing processvictorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, williamstown, finishing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with three others taken in 1990 at the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd. This image shows the pressing process.Colour photograph showing industrial wool processing machinery during the pressing process.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, williamstown, pressing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with four others taken at the opening day of the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd on 18th June, 1990. One of the people depicted is John Kerin, MP.Colour photograph featuring two men and a woman standing amongst industrial wool processing machinery.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, john kerin

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 basket into a steaming chamber. Backing card has four holes in left side.back: [handwritten] 18r. 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

Letter, on Newcastle Wool Processing Company Limited letterhead,.dated 11th January 1951, to the Principal, Gordon Institute of Technology requesting information on the use of lime in the fellmongering processwool - research wool processing, gordon institute of technology newcastle wool processing company limited, fellmongery, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool processing

Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Printed booklet bound with plastic black ring binder consisting of approximately 80 pages. Front cover shows graphic of Australian flag in top right corner and blue map of Australia, showing states and territories, in the centre.front: IWS / INTERNATIONAL / WOOL / SECRETARIAT / Practical Hints to improve the / quality and performance of / Australian wool during early / stage processing / Stuart Ascough / Australian Wool Technical Development / International Wool Secretariat / Melbourne / Australia / January 1997stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, victoria wool processors, port phillip mills pty ltd, topmaking, career, wool industry, training, technical advice, mills

Letter from C E Woolcock of G H Michell & Sons Limited dated 18th June 1942, to W R Lang. Describes experiments on "neutralising" wool during wool processing.wool - research wool processing world war ii wool - testing, g h michell & sons limited gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool processing, world war ii, wool - testing

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo shows the final sale to take place at the Melbourne Wool Selling Centre located off Geelong Road in Brooklyn, Victoria on 30th June 2010.Colour photograph featuring a group portrait of people seated and standing inside a room.front: [printed] SOUTHERN WOOL TRADE / Final sale at 691 Geelong Rd. Brooklyn / 30/06/2010victorian wool processors, melbourne wool selling centre, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, wool trading, trade, sale

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with four others taken at the opening day of the modernized facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd on 18th June, 1990. Two of the people depicted are John Kerin, MP and Joan Kirner.Colour photograph featuring a group of men and one woman, one of the men is holding a pair of scissors.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, john kerin

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with four others taken at the opening day of the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd on 18th June, 1990. One of the people depicted is John Kerin, MP.Colour photograph featuring a two men standing with wool slivers in the foreground.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, john kerin

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with four others taken at the opening day of the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd on 18th June, 1990. The person depicted is John Kerin, MP.Colour photograph featuring a man standing amongst barrels of wool slivers.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, john kerin

Part of a collection of photographs previously housed at Victorian Wool Processors (VWP), who were the last early stage wool processing company in Melbourne, and the second last in Victoria. The photographs were collected from other companies as they closed, and were donated to the museum by David Ritchie who was the General Manager at VWP. Victoria Wool Processors (Aust) Pty Ltd was founded by Jim Kim in 1983 as a dedicated international wool trading firm. Seeking greater quality control, the company opened its first physical processing plant in Melbourne in 1990 before scaling up to a state-of-the-art, 24-hour carbonising and scouring facility at Laverton North in 2002. For decades, it stood as one of the largest early-stage wool processing operations in the Southern Hemisphere, known for incorporating modern water-recycling and waste-management infrastructure. However, a severe domestic energy crisis and soaring natural gas prices forced the permanent closure of its manufacturing plant in December 2024, culminating in the company's official corporate liquidation in April 2026. This photo was previously in a frame with four others taken at the opening day of the modernised facility in Williamstown operated by Port Phillip Topmaking Pty Ltd on 18th June, 1990. One of the people depicted is John Kerin, MP.Colour photograph featuring a man cutting a blue ribbon with other men standing in the background.victorian wool processors, early wool processing, textile industry, jim kim, topmaking, port phillip topmaking pty ltd, john kerin