This slide is part of a collection of visual resources used by Stuart Ascough while conducting training and technical advice at mills in China, India, Russia and Australia. This item is 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.35mm colour transparency mounted in plastic slide mount showing printed text in English and Chinese.wool, industry, australia, australian wool board international wool secretariat, factory, training, wool scouring

Photo Album of Woollen Mills Dag Crusher being loaded onto truck to ship to G Callum of Breakwater for restoration by William Pargeter of Geelong. A member of and president of Geelong Vintage Machinery Association. After restoration used by G Callum. industry, machine, agriculture

This card is the fifth in a set of 16 information cards produced by the Stamina Clothing Company re: Australian Woollen Mills as give aways. It looks the process of wool scouring.Card no. 5 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55. Verso of card no. 5 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55.No. 5 Wool scouring at the Crusader Mills.australian woollen mills pty ltd stamina clothing company, scouring

Photographs were most likely used for promotional purposes. Room filled with wool scouring machines in an unknown textile mill.Sepia photo of a room filled with Scouring Machines in landscape format, located a textile mill.textile machinery, wool manufacture, wool, scouring

Richard Bennett was the first born child of Richard Bennett and Ann Isabella Kirk in February 1828 in London England. His father was a silk weaver. His family came to Sydney in 1833 but then returned to England in 1837. Richard came out himself in 1843 when he undertook a training course on the care of sheep. He first visited Belfast in January 1846 and described it as being" The centre of a large squatting district". In 1853 he married Elizabeth Nicholson Watson at St Johns Church of England Belfast Victoria. They had 11 children, 6 registered in Victoria and the other 5 born in New South Wales. Richard's aunt (or sister some sources say) Isabella married into "Belfast Royalty" by marrying Lloyd Rutledge in 1852 and they built 'Cooinda' in 1855 and lived there. However, Lloyd apparently fell down the steps drunk one night in 1858 and broke his neck. Richard's brother Ryder Bennett was Rutledge's accountant. (William or Lloyd?) Richard's sister Matilda married James Mylne knight. Richard Bennett worked on a number of properties in the district as well as heading to New South Wales in 1858 -1870 then he returned to the Port Fairy Area. He established the River Shaw Wool Scouring establishment at Yambuk in 1876 but by 1879 he had moved his business to the banks of the Merri River Dennington. He retired in 1887 and lived the rest of his life in Warrnambool. He died on 11th September 1904. Richard Bennett wrote many letters to the local newspapers regarding the early history of the district in 1984 these letters were published under the title "Richard Bennett's Early Days of Port Fairy" A book named "Richard Bennett's Early Days of Port Fairy" was edited by Jan Crichett using his letters Early settler noted for his letters regarding the Early Days of Port FairyBlack and white portrait of gentleman with a squared collarpionner, bennett, richard, dennington., early days of port fairy, river shaw wool scouring

Letter from Edwrd Waters & Sons, Patent Attorneys, 1949, to W R Lang re. R M Poole invention of a process for scouring wool.wool processing wool - research, scouring, lang, dr w. roy poole, r m, wool processing, wool - research

This slide is part of a collection of visual resources used by Stuart Ascough while conducting training and technical advice at mills in China, India, Russia and Australia. This item is 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.35mm colour transparency mounted in plastic slide mount showing printed text in English and Chinese.wool, industry, australia, australian wool board international wool secretariat, factory, training, wool scouring

This slide is part of a collection of visual resources used by Stuart Ascough while conducting training and technical advice at mills in China, India, Russia and Australia. This item is 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.35mm colour transparency mounted in plastic slide mount showing printed text in English and Chinese.wool, industry, australia, australian wool board international wool secretariat, factory, training, wool scouring

Photographs were most likely used for promotional purposes. The Q-VEE machine is a scouring machine. When fabric is removed from the loom it is often stiff, rough or uneven. Scouring removes the oils and dirt picked up from manufacture, leaving the fabric soft and fluffy. The photographed machine was made by J. Stone & Co, a British marine and railway engineering company based in Deptford in south east London.Four black and white, blue tinged photos of a Scouring Machine from different angles. Black writing on the rear, typed with a typewriter and stamped with the company stamp.8051.1 - rear - "Q-VEE" Machine. Tomlinsons (Roshdale) Limited. SOHO Works Rochdale. 29.6.37 849 8051.2 - rear - "Q-VEE" Machine. Tomlinsons (Roshdale) Limited. SOHO Works Rochdale. 29.6.37 856 8051.3 - rear - "Q-VEE" Machine. Tomlinsons (Roshdale) Limited. SOHO Works Rochdale. 29.6.37 851 8051.4 - front on machine - FIY Chain Gear J.Stone & Co Ltd London rear - P.I.V. Dial Control Tomlinsons (Roshdale) Limited. SOHO Works Rochdale. 29.6.37 853textile machinery, wool manufacture, wool, scouring

Photograph album containing 15 photographs of the textile processes which took place at the Valley Worsted Mill which was established in 1923.Photograph album contains 15 photographic postcards of textile processes from the Valley Mill, c.1920s. Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wool sorting at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wool scouring at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Woollen carding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Worsted carding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Combing and drawing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Woollen spinning at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Worsted spinning at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Winding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Warping at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Weaving at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Mending at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wet finishing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Dry finishing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Warehouse at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s.PHOTOGRAPHS THE / VALLEY WORSTED MILLS / GEELONG WOOL SORTING / WOOL SCOURING / WOOLLEN CARDING / WORSTED CARDING / COMBING & DRAWING / WOOLLEN SPINNING / WORSTED SPINNING / WINDING / WARPING / WEAVING / MENDING / WET FINISHING / DRY FINISHING / WAREHOUSE C.J. Frazer Photographer / Melbournetextile mills warehouses, weaving, textile production, textile mills, valley worsted mill, scouring, carding, combing, drawing, spinning, winding, warping, wet finishing, mending, milling, dry finishing, textile mills - warehouses

Album contains photos of the Elliott and Dibb wool sorting and blending operations; also six photos showing operations inside the Oriental Scouring Mills, Geelong. There were yellow sticky notes (non-contemporary, written by Gerald Van Rompaey) containing information on each photo scattered throughout the album. These have been removed for conservation reasons and their details transcribed here. The first note stated: "Michael's mother (the donor's mother, Mrs Elliott) said this album was got up as a promotional tool for an expensive overseas trip by Harold E. (her brother in law in 1950)". The 1st photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins Street show floor. The 2nd photo is similar to the first; the 3rd photo shows the fleeces being reclassed. The 4th photo shows the wool sorters at work (Harold Elliott can be seen in the double breasted suit). The 5th photo is of more reclassing, and the 6th is similar. The 7th photo shows Harold Elliott with the sorters and the 8th photo is similar. The 9th photo shows the first and second pieces of the skirtings being sorted. The 10th photo is a general shot of full bales and the reclass bins. The 11th photo shows a double dumping press at work, compressing the already full bales for shipment. The 12th photo shows scouring operations at Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring has been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). The 13th, 14th and 15th photos shows more scouring at the Oriental Scouring Mills. The 16th photo shows two men (Keith Dibb on the right) viewing the scoured wool. The 17th photo shows the scoured wool being pressed at the Oriental Scouring Mills, Geelong. The final six photos (the photos of the Oriental Scouring Mills operations) are all stamped on the verso with a photographer's stamp (Frazer Studios, Melbourne), suggesting that Elliott and Dibb commissioned a photographer to go to Geelong to take the photos. (a note from Gerald Van Rompaey identifying five photos has been found and is now located in supp. file 1417. It does not seem to identify photos in this album; the photos he identifies may turn up at a later stage.)Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins St show floor. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the skirtings in the reclass bins in the former Australian Estates Collins St show floor. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows fleeces being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the wool sorters at work (Harold Elliott can be seen in the double breasted suit). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows wool being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows wool being reclassed. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows Harold Elliott (double breasted suit) with the wool sorters. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows Harold Elliott (double breasted suit) with the wool sorters. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the first and second pieces of the skirtings being sorted. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows the full bales and the reclass bins. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950. This photo shows a double dump wool press at work, compressing the already full bales of wool even smaller for shipment overseas. Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scouring operations at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows two men (Keith Dibb on the right) viewing the scoured wool at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph from album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, in 1950. This photo shows the scoured wool being pressed at the Oriental Scouring Mills in Geelong (the scouring had been contracted out by Elliott and Dibb). Photograph album front cover. Album compiled by Elliott and Dibb, wool merchants, 1950.Frazer Studios / (C.J. FRAZER) / 165 BOURKE STREET / MELBOURNE, C.1 / CENT. 4358woolclassing, wool processing, elliott and dibb oriental scouring mills, scouring, wool press, wool press - double dump

Photo of the Phoenix Wool Scouring Works Staff of 57 (56 male and 1 female).phoenix wool company pty ltd

This card is the sixth in a set of 16 information cards produced by the Stamina Clothing Company re: Australian Woollen Mills as give aways. It looks the process of wool carding.Card no. 6 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55. Verso of card no. 6 from the Crusader Mills information card set, c.1945-55.No. 6 Carding the scoured wool at the Crusader Mills.australian woollen mills pty ltd stamina clothing company, carding

Black and white copy of original photograph showing scouring works, a large shed on the right of photo, another shed in middle and two open sheds on the left. A Mount in the background with two live trees and 2 dead trees. The Emu creek runs along the bottom of the Mount at back of photo and does a right turn following the trees behind the large shed. emu creek, linton, pittong, 1904, business, farming, wool, sheep, o'beirne scouring works

Two white covered catalogues with blue printing. Sale of wool scouring and carbonizing plant, 3 multi tubular boilers, 20 electric motors, spinning frame and equipment. J. H. Curnow & Son Pty. Ltd. Were the auctioneers for Godfrey Hirst & Co. Pty. Ltd. Catalogue contains Memorandum of Purchase at Auction, Special Note to Buyers, Location, Description of 183 lots and Conditions of Sale. Sale was on the 18/8/1964.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - auction catalogue - godfrey hirst & co pty ltd, j h curnow & son pty ltd, f c dyett, l c osborne, r w e hammill

Receipt issued to Mrs. W. Grigg 20/10/1941.Text: " Phones - Linton Nos. 3 and 8. / LINTON / J. & F. O'BEIRNE / WOOL AND SKIN MERCHANTS. / Wool-scouring and Fellmongery Works at Breakwater, Geelong. / Distributing Agents for Thomas' Sheep Dip, Gold SeEal Motor Lubricating Oils. / Manufacturers of Neatsfoot Oil. "mrs. w. grigg, j. & f. o'beirne, linton

The rug was made at Albion Mill in Geelong. It was owned by Mr Angus Peter and Ms Mary Anne Downie, the parents of Mary Virr (the donor). They lived in Cobden. Ms Downie's family had several connections to the Geelong wool industry, in particular the Albion Mill. See attached histories and family tree.W7214 W7214 reverse. Statement from Mary Virr on offer of donation Written family history by Mary Virr, page 1 Written family history by Mary Virr, page 2 Partial family tree of Mary Virr, including connections to the wool industry. Photocopy of marriage certificate dated 13th April 1881, marriage between James Downie and Mary Cairns, the grandparents of Mary Virr. A photocopy of a reference dated 15/09/1919 from Mr E. Plumridge from the Corio Wool Scouring Company for Miss M. DownieAlbion Mills Geelong Albion Rug All Wooltextile industry textile mills, albion woollen mills co. pty ltd, weaving, albion woollen mills, geelong, victoria, textile industry, textile mills

The rug was made at Albion Mills in Geelong. It was owned by Norman Downie, the uncle of Mary Virr (the donor) who inherited the rug after Mr Downie's death in the early 1990s. Mr Downie and his family had several connections to the wool industry in Geelong. He would send pieces of fabric out to Mrs Virr and her mother in Cobden every year. See attached history.W7215 Statement from Mary Virr on offer of donation Written family history by Mary Virr, page 1 Written family history by Mary Virr, page 2 Partial family tree of Mary Virr, including connections to the wool industry. Photocopy of marriage certificate dated 13th April 1881, marriage between James Downie and Mary Cairns, the grandparents of Mary Virr. A photocopy of a reference dated 15/09/1919 from Mr E. Plumridge from the Corio Wool Scouring Company for Miss M. DownieAlbion Mills Geelong Albion Rug All Wooltextile industry textile mills, albion woollen mills co. pty ltd, albion woollen mills, weaving, geelong, victoria, textile industry, textile mills

This is a badge of an Australian association of fellmongers, wool sorters and scourers. This group may have been part of the Amalgamated Fellmongers, Wool Sorters and Wool Scourers Union of 1912-1918 or it may have been an earlier association. A fellmonger was a dealer in the hides or skins of animals, especially sheep, or a person who removed the skins from animals. There were several fellmongery and wool scouring establishments in 19th century Warrnambool and district. These included the Dallimore Fellmongery at Lake Gillear, the Bennett Merri Bank Fellmongery at Dennington and the fellmongery businesses of James Evenett and Henry Mawbey on the Merri River in South Warrnambool.Although it has no known local provenance, this badge is of interest because there were several fellmongery establishments in the Warrnambool district in the 19th century so it may have belonged to a local person.This medallion has a gold coloured image of a suspended lamb on a circular royal blue enamel background which in turn is surrounded by a white enamel annulus with text. The external brass edging is filigree. The medallion has an attached ring at the top with narrow gold ribbon threaded through an additional ring FELLMONGERS WOOL SORTERS & SCRS' . AUST. WOOLANDSKIN 82? G.P.O.PLACE W fellmongers, warrnambool history, dallimore fellmongery, bennett merri bank fellmongery, james evenett, henry mawbey

Carl Wehl and Son Bark Mill, located in Taylor Street Stawell. The coloured photo depicts what remains of the building in Taylor St. Stawell. The mill has not been used for many years. The original factories were on Stawell Flat. Carl Wehl a native of Hanover, Germany came to Victoria in 1861. Carl Wehl was at Pleasant Creek in 1872 when he started business as a wool scourer and tanner. By 1880 his business of tanning wool scouring discontinued, and he commenced trading, (mongering) in Bark Milling. The Mill was described as being the largest of its kind outside Melbourne,Two photographs of a weather board building with corrugated iron roof. One black & white photo and an enlarged photo of the building when used as a Bark Mill. The coloured photo obviously more recent as the writing has faded and can just be made out on the front of the building. One of the original colour photos is missing (152-2). A disused railway line can be seen in the foreground. Sign on the door "Depot Wimmera." Stawell Bark Mill C. Wehl & Son. Merchants.stawell

Scouring is the process that removes wool wax and other unwanted products from wool. Wool is washed in a hot detergent solution. It moves through a series of scouring bowls and is then rinsed and dried. Careful handling and washing preserves the strength and softness of wool. If the wool contains lots of seeds and other vegetable matter, it must be cabonized. This means it is treated with a solution of sulpheric acid and then baked at high temperature to remove impurities. The disused scouring water left-over from this process was often let drain into rivers and watercourses causing pollution. Many of Geelong's wool scours along the Barwon River were closed due to environmental damage. The race system on this bowl is not the original it has been modified with a variation of the harrow system. Used at E.P. Robinson South Geelong from c.1890-1970.Scouring bowl.J. Dyson & Sons Pty Ltd, Geelongsouring bowl, j dyson & sons, geelong, wool processing, e. p. robinson, textile industry, factory, mill

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the fourth in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with blue ink illustrations and writing. It has a centrepiece-coloured emblem of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about wool studies relating to the health and productivity of wool sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about: - Wool scouring - Shearing - Lamb marking - Breeding - Fellmongering - Comparison between wool and artificial fibres - Characteristics of good wool - Wool selling methods - Established studs in Victoria - Award rates (1937-38)Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “CORONATION / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE SUBJECT Wool / SCHOOL Gordon Front Cover. Illustration’s colour, printed. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background.gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

The Collins No. 2 Woollen Mill building dates from around the 1930s, however related buildings at that site were first constructed from around 1918, that was the Marnock Vale Wool Scouring Works. The Union Woollen Mill founded in the 1870s by William Henry Collins, a major Geelong industrial enterprise, was among the local firms which flourished during the First World War period. From 1914-1918 Collins Bros. concentrated on equipment for the A. I. F. However, afterwards Collins Bros. Pty. Ltd. specialised in the manufacture of flannels and blankets. From 1920 to 1938 the output was increased by fifty percent, and the number of employees rose to 200. The Collins Bros. No. 2 Mill was established in Bridge Street, Newtown. The proprietary brand 'Physician' became well and favourably known throughout Australia source: Heritage Victoria The Collins Bros Mills No. 1 and No. 2 hired over 250 people, and produced between 40,000 and 60,000 blankets for both the Australian market and for overseas export. Collins Bros closed both mills in 1974.Landscape photograph mounted on board showing a group portrait of staff seated and standing together in front of the Collins No. 2 Woollen Mill, Bridge Street, Newtown. Buildings, a chimney, towers, tanks, farmland, a car, powerlines and dirt roads are shown in the background.

The wool was shorn from sheep of the Wyndarra and Rockbank bloodlines. A flock of 290 sheep were kept undercover at Kadinia, the property of the Appledore family from Brim in the Wimmera district of Victoria. Their record-breaking wool was produced by giving the sheep a special diet and providing each one with a UV-protective coat. Around 180 fleeces were selected for the million dollar bale. The sale of the first bale of wool measuring below 14 microns was held in the Auction Room here at the National Wool Museum. Bidding began at $600/kg and steadily increased until there were only two bidders left. The bidders represented the Japanese firm Aoki International and Loro Piana of Italy. The hammer fell at $10,300/kg, with Aoki International paying $1,194,800 for the 116kg bale. The fleece was scoured (cleaned) at the Goulburn Wool Scour, New South Wales. The degree of preparation and care taken with the task was extreme. The Scour closed production three days before and was extensively cleaned. On the day of scouring 12 tonnes of 17 micron wool was washed to condition the water, then nine bales of extra super fine wool, worth over $300,000 was washed as a trial run. Toabo Agaki Japan was employed to process the scoured wool into suit cloth. Taobo required the scoured wool to contain 0.5% residual grease, 12% moisture and a yield of 83kg. These requirements were met. The entire staff of the Scour wanted to be part of washing the best wool in the world. Without asking for payment both the night shift and afternoon shift crews assisted the day shift in the task. The bale was fed into the scour in seven minutes and fitted into three bowls, half the scour. It completely disappeared into the dryer and the last wool was fed before the first wool was out. The clean wool was hand-packed into cardboard cartons and freighted to Japan. Aoki International, based in Yokohama Japan, cut three suit lengths from the cloth, then blended the remaining wool into an exclusive line of commercially-available suits. These suits are labeled Kadinia.Wool sample from the Million Dollar Balewool sales, million dollar bale