FABRIK is closed Saturday 25 April to honour and remember those who served.
Reopening Sunday 26 April, 11am–4pm.
We acknowledge with pride the role of the Onkaparinga Woollen Mill and its workers in supplying fabric for uniforms and blankets for armed forces during the Boer War, WWI and WW2.
Lest we forget.
The image above is a Lobethal local, Victor Baumgurtel joined the 50th Infantry which was mainly composed of South Australian men. The khaki cloth used to make his uniform was likely woven here at the Mill. Victor was farewelled at the Lobethal Institute in September 1916 along with three other locals. Assistant Mill manager, Bill Redpath gave a speech while his wife Jessie, President of the Soldiers’ Comfort Club, presented each with a scarf and pair of socks. Victor was killed in action in France on 25 April 1918. His nephew Arthur Baumgurtel was a millworker at the time of his enlistment.
Photo: courtesy Rory Hughes
This green, double sided fringed rug was manufactured at the Mill during the Second World War. It was issued to Catherine (Kitty) Kau when she joined the Women’s Royal Australian Air Force (WRAAF), serving as a nurse in the Dental Service from 1942-45. Kitty, her parents and two brothers all worked at the Mill. Gift of Max Kau (worked in the Mill’s Worsted Dept 1953-55) in memory of his sister Catherine (Kitty) Jean Oldman née Kau 1924-2013.