Creswick Woollen Mills

Creswick Woollen Mills is Australia's last remaining coloured woollen mill, located in Creswick in the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria. Established in 1947, it is a working textile mill producing natural fibre products from alpaca and merino wool. The site combines a heritage museum, working mill, alpaca farm, retail store and cafe, and is notable for its continuous operation and post-war migrant history.

Visitors can expect a working woollen mill with guided tours of operating looms and textile machinery, a small heritage museum displaying mill history and equipment, an on-site retail shop selling Australian-made blankets, throws and apparel, a cafe, and outdoor paddocks with alpacas. The complex is set in a historic industrial building on Railway Parade, a short walk from Creswick Railway Station, with indoor exhibition areas and shop spaces to explore.

Established in 1947 by Polish migrant brothers Paul and John Ryzowy, Creswick Woollen Mills is the last surviving coloured woollen mill in Australia. It has operated continuously from its Creswick site, representing post-World War II migrant enterprise and the history of Australian textile manufacturing. The mill retains original machinery and techniques for spinning, dyeing and weaving natural fibres.

The mill represents Australian textile heritage and the contribution of post-war European migrants to regional Victoria. It promotes sustainable use of natural fibres including Australian merino wool and alpaca, and maintains traditional woollen manufacturing skills through working demonstrations and heritage interpretation.