Albany Woollen Mills Facts for Kids

Albany Woollen Mills building, 2017

View over white roofed mill and smokestack in 1933

Inside the remaining Woollen Mill building in 2015

Boilers being set up in 1924

Building the tall smokestack in July 1924

The Albany Woollen Mills, also known as the Western Australian Worsted and Woollen Mills Ltd., was a large factory in Albany, Western Australia. A woollen mill is a place where raw wool is processed and turned into yarn or fabric. This mill was the first of its kind in Western Australia.

Building the Mill
- Mill Design and Features
Opening and Early Challenges
Later Success and Ownership Changes
Images for kids
See also

Building the Mill

The idea for a woollen mill in Albany first came up in 1920. People thought Albany was a great spot because it had plenty of fresh water. The weather conditions were also good for processing wool. A local lawyer, S. G. Haynes, even gave 30 acres (about 12 hectares) of land for the project.

In 1921, the Minister of Industry, John Scaddan, announced that Albany had been chosen. It was picked over other cities like Perth and Bunbury.

Construction of the mill began in 1923. The Premier of Western Australia, James Mitchell, laid the first foundation stone on March 7. Later that year, a company from Melbourne was hired to build the mill for £85,000.

The builders chose a new spot for the mill. It was right next to the railway line at the bottom of Mount Melville. The original gifted land was too far from town.

Mill Design and Features

The main building was very big, about 352 feet (107 meters) long and 166 feet (50 meters) wide. Its walls were 16 feet (5 meters) high and made of strong concrete. The roof was made of corrugated asbestos and held up by 60 steel poles.

Two powerful 400 horsepower boilers were installed. These boilers helped create steam and power for the factory. They were connected to a tall smokestack, which stood 100 feet (30 meters) high.

Opening and Early Challenges

The mill officially opened in 1925. It was hoped to create many jobs and boost the economy in the Great Southern region. The company started with £116,331 owed to its shareholders, who were people who invested money in the business.

In 1926, there were rumors that the mill might close. However, the Chairman of Directors, Ernest Augustus Lee Steere, said he was surprised by these rumors.

The mill faced many difficulties in its early years and often lost money. Its location was not ideal because the noise and smoke from the factory caused problems for the town. Also, the wool produced was far from the main markets where it could be sold. The factory's design was also found to be inefficient.

In early 1931, the mill had too much wool stock. This meant they had to let go of 100 workers for a week. Operations at the mill then stopped for about six weeks. Premier Mitchell later helped reopen the mill after meeting with the directors.

By 1934, the mill was doing much better. It employed over 120 workers. Its annual turnover, which is the total money earned from sales, reached £150,000. This was a big jump from £54,000 the year before.

Later Success and Ownership Changes

The mill continued to improve over time. In 1953, it made a profit of £17,306. The next year, 1954, saw an even bigger profit of £24,500. The chairman, F. T. Heron, planned to keep making the factory's equipment and processes more efficient.

In 1963, the Albany Woollen Mills was one of four mills chosen to make army blankets. They received a contract to produce 160,000 blankets, worth a total of £400,000.

Robert Holmes à Court, a well-known businessman, bought the mill in 1970. At that time, the mill was in danger of closing down. Holmes à Court convinced the state government to cancel a £500,000 loan guarantee. In return, he promised to keep the mill open. He then managed to make the business successful again.

Later, the mill became part of his larger company, Bell Group Limited. In 1988, the mill was sold after Bell Group was taken over by another company. At that time, the mill had an annual turnover of £30 million. It was the largest independent factory in Australia that spun yarn for carpets.

In 1996, the mill was under administration, meaning it was being managed by experts to try and save it. The state government offered help to other companies interested in buying the mill. The Regional Development Minister, Hendy Cowan, hoped the mill would become a company that did more than just make yarn. He wanted it to process wool from start to finish.