Designed and manufactured in Lobethal SA originally at the Onkaparinga Woollen Mills the blankets were something special.

Below we share some stories from those who have shared them with us.

Still with the tags on…

Meg shared images of her Onkaparinga blanket with us, Meg is still holding onto her beautiful blanket in red tartan style still with the tags on. 100% pure wool, her Onkaparinga blanket is still in peak condition all these years later.

Vintage Onkaparinga Blanket

A daughter shares her father’s WW2 story…

Soldier in World War Two Isaac Hawkins

A soldier in WW2 Isaac Hawkins was thankful to have a warm blanket to get him through the long nights alongside his mates.  His daughter shared images of Isaac during the war and of his 1940’s Onkaparinga blanket that she holds so dearly today.

Jean shared this story with us from Canada, where she lives and still cherishes that blanket.

“Thank you for keeping him warm during the war and for keeping me warm today with memories” Jean – Alberta, Canada.

70 years of cherished family memories…

Some beautiful memories were made for the McBurney family, with a beautiful Onkaparinga travel blanket.  Kay contacted us with stories of cherished memories of her parents and outings shared with them and her late sister Judy and we were fascinated to hear it is 70 years old, still with the tag and in great condition.   Pure wool, a beautiful brown and beige with fringed edging, a style that could easily be part of today’s décor.

Kay’s late sister was the beautiful and talented Judy McBurney. A much loved Australian actress, voice over artist and model, well known for her appearances in The Young Doctors and Prisoner, a part of Australian history herself, what a story it was to find out that she had cherished the blanket enough to hold onto it for so many years!  With her parents and sister now sadly passed, Kay had found that her sister had held on to the beautiful blanket for years, and thankfully decided to share those memories with us.

We are lucky to now be the custodians of this blanket, with it now being cherished right here with us after it being generously donated to our small but growing collection.

We are glad to be part of those memories for Kay and her family and love to hear these stories!

55 years on, a glory box story…

We were excited to hear a story shared with us from 2GB radio station a few years ago, a lovely caller told the story of how she had Onkaparinga Australian wool blankets in her glory box when she got married 55 years earlier!

She and her husband still have them on the bed to this day and told the story, listen below…

Putting out fires…

We have even heard a story of a couple that cherished their Onkaparinga blankets, blankets that were still used on their beds… until a house fire swept through.  Onkaparinga blankets were used to put out the fires, but the owners still to this day were disappointed the blankets did not survive after saving the house.

Cherished memories…

There are many more stories of the Onkaparinga blankets, those we hear of everyday.  Stories of children that grew into adults remembering the blankets they had on their bed’s way back when.  Stories of children that are now trying to get those blankets of their parents (and stories of parents that won’t yet part with them!).

We have grandparents with memories of wrapping their children in Onkaparinga blankets, who are now doing the same for new grandchildren.

We are very proud to be a small part of such a historical brand and love to hear these stories.

If you have a story you would like us to share, please email your story (and some images if you have them) to info@onkaparinga.com.au .  We love to share your stories!

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NEW Onkaparinga Australian Wool Blankets

In the early years Onkaparinga was renowned for its quality Australian wool blankets, and over the years they dwindled into history with quilts and comforters taking over in popularity.

Handed down for generations we have had stories of grandparents handing our vintage check and brightly coloured blankets to children and grandchildren.  We have had proud grandparents order a brand-new Australian wool blanket for the family’s new baby, creating new heirlooms for the next generation.

The stories…

We have heard of couples having Onkaparinga blankets in their glory boxes when they got married and fifty years later still have them good as new on their bed.  Pictures of soldiers that carried Onkaparinga blankets during the war have been received, sent by loved ones that to this day hold these blankets as treasures are received with pleasure.

When will they return? …

We get asked daily about when our much-loved Australian wool blankets will make a return and we have refused to add an Australian woollen blanket to our collection until the quality could rival those beloved blankets from the past.

Our NEW Australian wool blankets have arrived.

Celebrating our proud history …

Onkaparinga blankets are a part of Australian history and we are proud to be part of that history.  Celebrating the brands 150^th Anniversary this year, we believed the blankets should return as a celebration of something special from the past.

For our celebration year we have introduced two beautiful Australian wool blankets, both a nod to our heritage;

• Our ‘Check Australian wool blanket’ Onkaparinga blanket has a beautiful heritage check in modern greys and navy to one side and a rich navy to the reverse.  A classic blanket stich edge to the blanket is a little throw back to way back when, when Onkaparinga blankets had the original blanket stitch edging.
• Our ‘Australian wool blanket’ in grey is fully reversable with the much-loved satin edging that gives the blanket the feel of yesteryear.  Light grey to one side and charcoal to the reverse this modern take on the heirloom Onkaparinga blanket will have you cosying up all winter.

Onkaparinga ‘Check’ Heirloom Blanket

Onkaparinga ‘Grey’ Heirloom Blanket

Creating the heirlooms of the future.

View the Onkaparinga blanket collection HERE.

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A history…

Onkaparinga was established in 1869 in South Australia by two German brothers that had migrated to Australia bringing weaving machinery with them.

Both Heinrich and Edward Kramm were weavers and established themselves in a mud hut in Hahndorf with just one carding machine, one horse driven spinning mule of 30 spools and 2 hand looms.  This was the beginning of the now well-known Onkaparinga brand.

From these humble beginnings Onkaparinga has survived through tough times to become one of Australia’s most loved bedding brands.

In the early days, the wool was washed in the river by hand, dried in the sun before being teased, also by hand.  Burrs and grass seeds were picked out in the evenings by people sitting by the fire at night, the wool was oiled by the women before carding and the horse powered spinning machine spun the wool in preparation for weaving.

Severe drought and trade depression in South Australia in 1878 brought another temporary closure of the business.

At this stage in history the company was able to produce 1000 yards per week with the new boiler, a 30-horsepower engine, stem looms and carding machines.

With such a large output, the water supply from the creek was soon insufficient and the well water supplementing the water supply was soon also insufficient. The factory ceased work in 1878.

The company made its return as The South Australian Woollen Factory in 1883.

In the late 1800’s the government funded a six-million-gallon reservoir to guarantee the Mill’s water supply. This allowed the company to continue to operate seeing out the 1800’s as a company that had been a prominent influence in the wool industry in Australia for 69 years.

At the end of the 1800’s the mill was successfully operating supplying uniforms to those serving in the Boer War, cloth for the military, customs uniforms and railway workers.

The beginning of the brand…

World war one bought about the stimulus required for the woollen mills to develop, increasing the employees from 30, to 100 by 1914.

A name change in 1928 was the beginning of the brand Onkaparinga, with the mill being renamed Onkaparinga Woollen Company.  In the midst of manufacturing being a major economic force in Australia, Adelaide was experiencing industrialisation. The expansion and extension of the Onkaparinga Woollen Company was pertinent to the growth of the company’s profits and reputation.

When World War 2 ended, Australia and its economy had changed greatly.  With shipping disrupted during the war years Australia had been forced to develop the existing manufacturing industries, rather than rely on imported goods.  Wool was one of Australia’s primary products during this time. In a period in history that was fittingly referred to as The Post War Wool Boom. Australia’s main export revenue came from wool products and was a significant milestone in creating a strong Australian economy.

Today…

Today William A McNeil & Co Pty Ltd is the proud owner of the Onkaparinga brand, supplying luxurious bedding all over the world for the well-known brand, and sourcing the highest quality materials from Europe, Turkey, Egypt and Asia Pacific.  Based in Melbourne, Australia Onkaparinga is making a return to Australian Made, with our Australian Made Collection an exciting nod to our heritage as a company that has helped build the wool industry for almost 150 years.

Onkaparinga is now looking forward celebrating its 150^th Anniversary in 2019, and a strong future as one of Australia’s most loved bedding brands.

Visit our home page to view the beautiful collection of bedding CLICK HERE 

Image credit – some images supplied by the National Wool Museum

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One of Australia’s oldest companies and now brand, Onkaparinga started in South Australia in 1869 in Hahndorf and then moved operations to Lobethal, situated 40 kilometres from Adelaide in the picturesque “Valley of Praise”.

Migrating from Germany, two brothers, Heinrich and Edward Kramm, both weavers, purchased and brought with them some machinery and established themselves in Hahndorf in a mud hut. Their original plant consisted of one carding machine, one spinning mule of 30 spools and 2 hand looms. The spinning mule was horse driven, the others all hand operated. This beginning was not so successful and in 1873, Mr. F.W. Kelinschmidt bought the machinery and the brothers’ expertise and relocated in his disused brewery at its present location in Lobethal, situated on the banks of the western arm of the Onkaparinga river. The wool was washed by hand and dried in the sun then teased by hand.

Despite a government contract for US$10,000 for supply of 10,000 yards of cloth, Kleinschmidt’s new venture could not survive and in 1877, a syndicate was formed with F.W. Kleinschmidt as Chairman. Extensive upgrading and building programs were undertaken and on 9th July 1877, the Lobethal Woollen and Tweed Company was opened for business. However the trouble was not over, for 1878 saw South Australia in severe drought conditions and trade depression together caused yet another forced temporary closure of operations in “Tweedvale” as it was known.

1883 saw the efforts of Mr. David Murphy come to fruition with a new company name, “The South Australian Woollen Factory” which was formed with US$20,000. More buildings were erected to house 16 new looms on the 10th November 1885, under the management of Mr. J.W. McGregor, later to become one of Australia’s largest wool brokers, 30 employees on a payroll expense of US$50 were off and running. This continued successfully into the next century.

TODAY

Now 145 years later the brand name Onkaparinga, is known all over the world, the products reflect the experience, passion and ingenuity of over a century’s tradition in providing luxurious homewares. The supply of these ranges to both the retail and commercial sectors has been the cornerstone of the business. William A. McNeil & Co. (WAM) has proudly taken over the reins and is looking forward to creating a new and exciting chapter in Onkaparinga’s history. Today Onkaparinga not only manufactures superior bedding ranges, we source exclusive and luxurious ranges from Europe, Turkey, Egypt & Asia Pacific.

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