Yarra Falls Spinning Co Pty Ltd

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Agent TypeOrganisationIdentifierUMA-AG-000000233 Last edited by: mbarrie@unimelb.edu.au

Activities & OccupationsManufacture, TextilesManufacturers, clothing and textilesHistoryYarra Falls Spinning Co Pty Ltd was founded between 1916-1917 by three UK textile manufacturers Sir Henry Whitehead, Mr Gates and Mr Hill. It was located at Johnston Street Abbotsford. Its main business at that time was spinning, using machines and skilled labour which had come out from imported Yorkshire. During the 1920s Yarra Falls expanded its business and built a weaving mill in Trenerry Street in 1928 and its administrative complex in a nearby building in Johnston Street. Yarra Falls acquired Globe Worsted in 1927, and later John Brown Industries in 1961 and several smaller businesses which formed the Yarra Falls group. During the 1940s Yarra Falls created the Bradford Yarra Falls Astral Silk (BYFAS) who were silk weavers and finishers who played a crucial role in producing silk for parachutes used during WWII. The BYFAS finishing plant was later sold to Gibbs Burge. In the 1960s polyester and synthetic fabrics and easy casualwear were becoming increasingly popular, particularly Crimplene which was a market hit. In response Yarra Falls increased its production and range of polyester and synthetic fabrics; and in 1967 it purchased the Daylesford Centenary Mills to cater to public demand. At that time they started to distribute their pattern books through various retail outlets and were a common feature in most design and tailoring workshops.

During the 1970s to 1980s Yarra Falls started to sell off its businesses, purchase pre scoured wool tops and it outsourced its fabric dyeing and finishing operation to Gibbs Burge. Fragmentation of process, outsourcing and automation became common methods used by textile and manufacturing companies to keep capital costs down and remain competitive. Yarra Falls in later years focused on spinning and manufacturing designs for labels such as John Brown, Stafford Ellison Sportscraft and Dobsons in a bid to remain competitive. Throughout its existence it remained well connected and well known in the textile and retail industry both in Australia and overseas, attending many of the industry fairs, machinery trade fairs, winning several International Wool Secretariat Golden Threads awards, they were strong supporters of the Australian Wool Innovation Woolmark logo and having a consistent presence at international design fairs

The Yarra Falls spinning business was purchased by Australian Country Spinners in 1998. In 2017 Australian Country Spinners were purchased by Bendigo Woollen Mills. Search records of this agent

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Date1916-1998

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Other NamesYarra Falls Spinning Company Pty Ltd

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Yarra Falls Spinning Co Pty Ltd