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Hutt Valley History 50; Industry and Commerce 008; the Wellington Woollen Mills.
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DescriptionOne of a set of 64 images from what must have been a mid-1960s film-strip presentation by Lower Hutt City Council on over 110 years of progress.
Original description:-
"In 1885, the Wellington Woollen Mills was founded on its present site on the foreshore of Petone (see here in the 1930's). The looms for many years were driven by electricity generated by the water wheel of Percy's original mill on the Korokoro stream.
From a 'Dominion Post' article:-
Better known as the Petone Woollen Mill, the plant operated at the foot of Korokoro hill from 1886 until 1968.
From a 5.2 hectare site alongside the lower reaches of Korokoro Stream, with a dam constructed further up to supply water for scouring and dyeing and to drive steam engines to generate electricity, the mill at times employed more than 200 staff, including skilled migrant mill workers from the United Kingdom.
While serges, tweeds and various woollen garments were produced on the plant's clattering looms, the mill's best-known product was blankets.
Tens of thousands of New Zealand household linen cupboards probably still have one or two of the heavy "Petone" blankets.
Image has been darkened, with reduced contrast, to reveal far side of the harbour.
Date Taken1930sGeotag[1] Probable location
Original description:-
"In 1885, the Wellington Woollen Mills was founded on its present site on the foreshore of Petone (see here in the 1930's). The looms for many years were driven by electricity generated by the water wheel of Percy's original mill on the Korokoro stream.
From a 'Dominion Post' article:-
Better known as the Petone Woollen Mill, the plant operated at the foot of Korokoro hill from 1886 until 1968.
From a 5.2 hectare site alongside the lower reaches of Korokoro Stream, with a dam constructed further up to supply water for scouring and dyeing and to drive steam engines to generate electricity, the mill at times employed more than 200 staff, including skilled migrant mill workers from the United Kingdom.
While serges, tweeds and various woollen garments were produced on the plant's clattering looms, the mill's best-known product was blankets.
Tens of thousands of New Zealand household linen cupboards probably still have one or two of the heavy "Petone" blankets.
Image has been darkened, with reduced contrast, to reveal far side of the harbour.
Date Taken1930sGeotag[1] Probable locationPart of
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Hutt Valley History 50; Industry and Commerce 008; the Wellington Woollen Mills.. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 18/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/17248