Aunde took over the site of the former Stawell Woollen Mill and continued to produce fabrics for the airline and car industries manufacturing seat covers.

The Woollen Mill was officially opened on 21 June 1923.

Operations "scouring the wool" commenced earlier on 13 March 1923. Planning and construction began on 15 July 1921.

In 1924, Stawell Woollen Mill was promoted as The best-equipped Mill in Australia and was, at the time, the largest employer in Stawell. Most people still living in Stawell can clearly remember either their own or a family member's time working at the Mill. Stawell Historical Society has numerous photographs of people who worked there.

These include The Mill's own Female Football Team, tennis team, debutante's and workplace scenes.

The Mill experienced financial and supply downturns with a lack of Investors and was liquidated on 27 November 1927 having been inactive since mid-1926.

It was at this time that Mr John Edward Bennett of Warrnambool and his son, John Bennett began negotiations to purchase the non-operational Mill.

They purchased it together with some of the original shareholders.

It was renamed North Western Woollen Mills Pty Ltd and recommenced production on 3 July, 1926. This was described in the Press as the best possible outcome for the mill.

In its years of operation it became famous for its woollen blankets, Cotton Tapestry, and later, flame retardant fabric, car and airline seat covers for Qantas, Polyester Wool, and many fabrics used in the production of clothing (possibly the best known is the "Bluey" Jacket).

The Mill managed all its own ancillary departments including weaving, dyeing, carding, spinning.

By 1962 the Mill was employing 165 males and 100 females. In 1963 Norwellan Incorporated took over the capital of NWWM and Norwellan was adopted as the name as Shareholders thought the original name was too long.

By the mid 1970s Australia saw an influx of cheaper synthetic fabrics from overseas which caused the stand down of some workers due to lack of orders. This caused a great deal of concern throughout the entire industry. In 1988, Mermax, the major customer for loose car seat covers, sold to Century Batteries.

Payments due to Norwellan were not forthcoming and they determined they could get the fabric cheaper in Indonesia. This caused some anxiety but was partly resolved.

OTHER NEWS:

In 1989, AIDC equity investment enabled some major upgrades to plant and equipment (this had been set up by the Commonwealth Govt. to counter Australia's dependence on foreign capital and to support local industry).

Poor markets saw the retrenchment of a number of employees and negotiations with a number of other companies for upgrading and investment However, by the early 1990's the future was unclear. Further partnerships with Aste saw some success with jacquards and tapestries being used in furnishings in The White House.

In 1998 Norwellan was sold to Aunde Achter & Ebels ending the then 72-year history.

Aunde closed its doors on 02 July 2021, almost to the day 100 years ago that this story began. A wealth of information and many photos can be found in Graeme Bennett's book "The Stawell Woollen Mills", Evolution of the Bennett Textile Business available at The Stawell Historical Society.

Stawell Times-News would like to thank the Stawell Historical Society for compiling the history of this business. Journalists have made several attempts to contact the business, to which calls had not been returned.