Albion Woollen & Worsted Mills (former) Factory

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The remaining building of the former Albion Woollen and Worsted Mills has historical significance as one of Geelong's major woollen mills. The venture has operatedon thesame site for more than a century.

The Albion Woollen Mill was one of the four key sites - with Victoria, Barwon and Union Mills - that was established in the late 1860s to mid 1870s. These mills were in constant operation on the west side of the Barwon Bridge over the last century and led to Geelong's fame as a milling and scouring locality. The Albion Mill was probably the most successful survivor of the early private company operations. It was regarded as a model mill in the late 1880s and was, from all accounts, well-planned and organised with machinery on a par with the great mills of England. It produced high quality tweeds.

Together with the (now demolished) Union Mill it was regarded as the borough's principle industry over the 1870-1900 period and was one of Australia's most significant producers of tweed by 1900. These two mills were more successful, competitive and long lived than the Barwon and Victoria Mills.

The remaining building form is an important reminder of the private ventures of both the Albion and Union Mills and represents a key site of spinning, carding and finishing (in the upper section) and scouring and dyeing (in the lower section near to the river).

The loss of the adjacent former Union Mill is unfortunate because the complex, together with the former Collins Union Mill office building, was an important reminder of the success of these industries and the reputation they earned for the Geelong region as a centre for quality textile products.

Group

Manufacturing and Processing

Category

Textile Mill