Once Milton’s primary industry, employing at its peak at least 400 people, the processor was razed in 1901, four years after the building’s foundation stone was laid. However the fledgling operation by then had a reputation for making quality products and another mill was quickly built.
On May 1 Bruce Woollen Mill defied the odds and is back operating, at this stage in a small way.
For most of last century Bruce Woollen Mill dominated the town of Milton. To overcome labour shortages some employees were bussed in from surrounding towns such as Kaitangata, Balclutha and Lawrence. A housing scheme assisted workers and a women’s hostel was managed by the YWCA.
Since 1963 the mill has been owned first by Alliance textiles then by Quality Yarns in 1999.
Even now in its somewhat rundown state the main buildings, especially the office block, have a certain decaying majesty. I’m told the office and boardroom are equally magnificent, reflecting a bygone age before the corporates moved in with their asset sale mentality.
Back in 1897 a group of local farmers saw the value of a woollen mill in the district. The result was the creation of an early cooperative. Now the revitalised Bruce Woollen Mill will also be a cooperative. The board has decided to return to the original name Bruce, being the name of the local district before the amalgamations of the counties in the 1990s.
The mill was not named after Scotland’s Robert the Bruce, although his image was used extensively in advertising. It was an excellent picture portraying what we all believed Robert the Bruce would have looked like in his suit of armour.
The major shareholder in the new Bruce Woollen Mill is Wool Equities Ltd with a 77% shareholding. The other shareholders are former customers of previous owner Quality Yarns. The mill started working again on May 1, and there is several months work ahead.
Wool Equities Ltd spokesman and chairman Cliff Heath says the opportunity was unique – the machinery was there and in surprisingly good condition. It could cost millions to assemble such a wide range of working machinery.
There was a skilled workforce available and a realisation that this was possibly the last chance to save a woollen mill that produced a product needed by the specialist operators.
Cliff said Bruce Woollen Mill Ltd will be the cornerstone spinning company, producing specialist yarns for the innovative New Zealand wool-based textiles sector, hand knitters, machine knitters and fabric weavers.
At this stage 19 people are employed, a number expected to grow increase significantly. The plans include a training scheme to get more younger people into the industy.
Lui Gundersen, formerly a plant manager for Feltex and Godfrey Hirst, is appointed to manage the Milton mill and began work on April 26.
The balance of the shares will be held by 11 industry participants who are customers of mill.
Wool Equities is a much different operation from that which evolved from the Wool Board. There are new people and a totally different culture.
In the Bruce Woollen Mill background is my old mate Michael Mellon who specialises in rescue endeavours such as Bush Road Salads and Barkers Fruit Wines.
Mike survives where others have fallen.
