Series 1: John Vicars & Co. company history

MLMSS 11772/Boxes 1-3
MLMSS 11772/Box 19X

series

1872-1977

Textual Records, Clippings, Photographs, Graphic Materials, Ephemera

9668566

0.48 metres of textual material (3 boxes), includes photographs - manuscript, typescript

John Vicars Senior (1820-1894) was employed by Thomas Barker to manage his tweed mill, Barker's Mill, in Sussex Street, Sydney, 1872. In 1873, Vicars acquired Barker's Mill and ran it under his own name, John Vicars & Co. until the company relocated to Marrickville, Sydney, 1894.

John Vicars & Co purchased Sydney Woollen Mills, originally Parramatta Woollen Mills, 1914. It continued to operate as Sydney Woollen Mills.

John Vicars & Co. celebrated its centenary, 1973. It published a pamphlet and featured in several press releases.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

This series contain correspondence, financial statements and reports, contracts and other records relating to Barker's Mill and provides an overview of the company's history, particularly highlighting its involvement in World War One, World War Two; and its centenary celebrations in 1973.

BOX 1
FOLDER 1
Correspondence between John Vicars and Thomas Barker relating to the operations of the mill, 1872-1875

FOLDER 2
Contractual documents relating to legal lease, indenture, possession of premises, bill of sale and the legal discharge of Barker's Mill to John Vicars, 1873-ca. 1880s

FOLDER 3
Draft manuscript and published pamphlet about the history of the mill, titled, 'Barker's Mill' by Joseph Harding of Parramatta; three coloured photographs and newspaper clippings relating to the construction of the Cross City Tunnel and remnants of the Baker's Mill building; printed copy of report, 'Non-Indigenous archaeological assessment: Cross City Tunnel Route - Darling Harbour to Kings Cross', Casey and Lowe Pty Ltd Archaeology and Heritage, on behalf of BHBB Pty Ltd, September 2002

FOLDER 4
Records relating to the Marrickville factory building, including correspondence from McNamara & Nathan solicitors, Ernest A Scoot, architect; tenders for factory; valuation certificates; invoices from John Grant, builder and contractor, George Skinner, Ernest A Scott, 1894-1896

FOLDER 5
Records relating to the corporate history, including certificate of trademark; memorandum and articles of association; agreement between William and Robert Vicars with John Vicars & Co. Ltd; letters relating to the coal strike and Calcutta International Exhibition; and Empire Exhibition, Scotland certificate (Box 19X), 1883-1938

FOLDER 6
Records relating to inventory, shares, insurance policies, land and property, including correspondence, share certificates, and other documents, 1887-1951

FOLDER 7
Records relating to the company and textile history in Australia, including correspondence, radio scripts, leaflets and articles, 1907-1946


BOX 2
FOLDER 8
Records relating to the company's involvement in World War One, including correspondence, purchase contract and insurance for "Sprayleigh", Pitt Town, New South Wales, a farm purchased for returned soldiers; correspondence for the Prime Minister's Department on the purchase of wool tops; and prospectus Commonwealth war loan, 1918-1925

FOLDER 9
Records relating to the company's involvement in World War Two, including correspondence, pamphlets, quotations and other documents relating to the production of soldiers uniforms; correspondence and other documents relating to the Central Wool Committee, 1939-1945

FOLDER 10
Weekly progress statements on order of supply by various mills for the Defence Department by Robert James (Jim) Vicars, government appointed controller for the Contract Board of Supply and Development, Rialto Buildings, 497 Collins Street, Melbourne. Mills included Amalgamated Textiles (Australia) Ltd, Sydney; Challenger Woollen Mills, Liverpool; Ipswich Woollen Co Pty Ltd; Lithgow Woollen Mills, Bowenfels; Morris Woollen Mills (Ipswich) Pty Ltd, Redbank, Queensland; Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Co Ltd, North Ipswich, Queensland, 1940-1941

FOLDER 11
Records relating to employees, including conditions of work, employment and apprenticeship agreements, interview assessment template, instruction to employee pamphlets, company pensions, Vicars Mill bulletin for employees and correspondence, 1891-1977

FOLDER 12
Photographs of employees and Peter Vicars and related newspaper clippings, celebrating long service record for employees Cecil Page, Jack Smith, Nancy Jewell and Norman Austin; and employees picnic at Correy's Gardens, 17 December 1910

FOLDER 13
Records relating to employee cricket matches, including correspondence player names, matches, scores and score book, 1960-1976


BOX 3
Green bound volume visitors book signed with names and addresses of all visitors to the mill, 25 July 1939- 13 September 1950

FOLDER 14
Records relating to Sydney Woollen Mills, including correspondence and sundry papers; purchase agreements between Alfred Edward Daking Smith of Parramatta Woollen Mills and John Vicars & Co.; description of buildings, stock and plant inventory; brochure about Sydney Woollen Mills and article titled, 'History of the Darling Mills', prepared by Robert Vicars, 1911-ca. 1970s

Ledger of summary and list of shareholders, 21 May 1914-1917

FOLDER 15
Correspondence, newspaper clippings, articles and photographs relating to the centenary celebrations, 1973. The date is taken from when John Vicars Senior (1820-1894) took over Barkers Mill, Sussex Street, Sydney. Includes portrait photograph of John Vicars, ca. 1850-2008.
The centenary booklet, ' Vicars: The first 100 years in Australia 1873-1973', can be found at call number Q338.47677/14.

FOLDER 16
Newspaper articles from local and ethnic newspapers about the centenary celebrations, 1973-1974

Copyright restrictions may apply:
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder