Final thread for historical Wangaratta shop

In-person shopping at the Wangaratta Woollen Mills has closed its doors for what’s expected to be the final time after a century of selling the finest quality commercial and hand knitting yarns. While online shopping will remain and manufacturing remains onsite for now, regular shoppers had their final chance to visit the Mill Shop last Friday, with many making the most of their trips and buying in bulk. Mill Shop manager Bevan Tremellen said it was sad to see the historical shop closing its doors at its Textile Avenue site. “We're only open two days a week now, and we’ve just been getting less and less foot traffic,” he said. “A lot of people would come in, the ladies would buy the yarn, the men would go and look at the photos in the historical room. “It was very busy today [Friday] though and we’ve been getting some nice words from people coming in.” Wangaratta Woollen Mills was officially opened in August 1923 by the then Premier of Victoria Harry Lawson. The mill produced high quality worsted yarns and was soon acknowledged to be the most progressive spinner of high-quality knitting yarns, becoming Australia's largest mainland mill. In the early 1970s staff numbers reached 500 before import tariffs and competition from imported yarns started to have a drastic effect. The Wangaratta Woollen Mills was renamed Australian Country Spinners as the company took a different direction throughout the 1980s and 1990s before being purchased by Bendigo Woollen Mills in 2017. The 5.77-hectare block was conditionally sold last month and new owners are carrying out planning assessments for the land’s future development. It’s believed if all planning processes are met, a large format retail home-maker type centre will be built there. Mr Tremellen said in the meantime the mill will continue to operate as business as usual, manufacturing the high-quality yarn they are famous for. “We continue to operate and we're still manufacturing, so we're still making yarn, dyeing, balling, the whole lot, and it'll happen until we know our future,” he said. You can purchase items, browse and contact the Wangaratta Woollen Mills via their website: https://wangarattawoollenmills.com.au/

Final thread for historical Wangaratta shop

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