Breathing life into an old woollen mill

Finding uses for buildings that no longer are used can be tricky. Creativity to the rescue!

A disused woollen mill in the town of Lobethal, South Australia is now a destination for anyone who works in or is interested in art, especially where textiles are concerned. Featuring spaces for workshops, residencies, studios and retail, the mill offers opportunities for cross-cultural collaboration and conversation, exhibitions and music (long been part of the town’s history), under the name of Fabrik, a nod to the German roots of the settlement.

The town of Lobethal was established by Prussian settlers in the 19th Century, and it was a centre for wool products through the Lobethal Tweed Factory, which became the Onkaparinga Woollen Company and is now the home of Fabrik. The company was known for its iconic blankets, now desirable collectors items, and the brand continues to produce under new ownership today.

Read more:

History of Onkaparinga Woollen Company

See more:

The tweed mill in 1870

The woollen mill in 1872

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