The company has created natural fibre products, specialising in the production of alpaca and wool fibres, since 1946, when it was founded by Polish migrant Paul Ryzowy.

Creswick Woollen Mills is now the only coloured woollen spinning mill of its type in Australia.

Celebrating the anniversary at the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne on Friday were Mr Ryzowy’s grandchildren Boaz and Sharon Herszfeld, who took over the business when Mr Ryzowy passed away in 2008, along with their families.

They unveiled new plans to update the mills, which are located in Creswick, just north-east of Ballarat

Boaz Herszfeld, who is now executive director, said they would be developing the inside and out of the mills.

“We’ll be putting some cladding in front of the tin shed, using beautiful, natural foliage, and some great signage to open it up to the public,” Mr Herszfeld said. 

“We’re very lucky, in the last 12 months we’ve had over 30,000 Asian tourists come through, so with an international consultant, we’ve been able to develop a plan where those bus groups can flow through, and get nice and close and personal with the animals.”

He said they have high hopes about how this will be received by the public.

“As time goes on, it will become one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Victoria, just behind the penguins and koalas,” he said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria and Tourism and Major Events Danielle Green was also in attendance, and said the history of the business is incredible.

“That is one of the beautiful things of a family-run business, it’s like so many of our really successful businesses, particularly in regional Victoria, whether it be in transport or textiles, there are just some really fantastic families out there,” Ms Green said.

“It’s the strength of their business, it’s why their story is so intriguing.”