Historical information

The Phoenix Wool Company was started in 1919 by Brigadier-General Robert Smith. The works were located on the Barwon River, near the end of Shannon Avenue; some remnants of the original buildings can still be seen at the site. Phoenix was one of the first to develop the wool carbonising process (the removal of vegetable matter from wool through the use of chemicals) and during its heyday in the 1930s-50s the company operated 24 hours per day and employed a workforce of over 100. The company closed in 1997. This box of carbonised wool samples may possibly have been used by a salesman promoting the activities of the company.

Physical description

Display case, brown cardboard printed with text in black on the lid at the top. Lined in blue. Interior divided into five sections, each containing samples of carbonised wool. There are five labels attached to the inside of the box lid.

Inscriptions & markings

THE PHOENIX WOOL COMPANY / PTY. LTD. / WOOL CARBONISERS / GEELONG / VICTORIA / AUSTRALIA / TELEPHONE: 2241, GEELONG / CABLE AND TELEGRAPHIC ADRESS: / "PHOEWOOL" GEELONG