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Rosedale History Quiz

WRONG - In 1898 the Rosedale Tannery was up and running, and doing quite well according to the newspaper report shown below.

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Additional Information:

THE ROSEDALE TANNERY.

Nestling under a huge cutting on the north bank of the Latrobe River, and shaded on the south side, as well as obscured from view by a prolific growth of weeping willows, stands what is known as the Rosedale tannery. The buildings, which are of a formidable nature, are erected in the side of the hill, an extensive cutting having been made in the bank of the river in order to make room for the factory and its natural addenda. Judging from the size of the works, the enterprising proprietor must have contemplated doing an immense trade, and doubtless in the past a remunerative business was done there, but, like most other things in Rosedale, it has lost its pristine vigor, and the present turnover is nothing in comparison to what it was in bygone days. At the present time the factory and works are owned by Mr F. A. Shiells, of Traralgon, and the factory is managed by Mr W. Shiells, who has such a thorough knowledge of the business in all its departments, and with an extensive and up-to-date plant at his command, he is able to make the undertaking yield a profitable return, and could considerably augment the turnover if skins were not so dear and so scarce. The process of tanning and curing the hides and skins is one of interest, especially to the uninitiated, and one can hardly credit—when he sees the leather in a refined state—that it is the same article that was thrown into a sluice some three days previously, so vast is the change. The special feature of this tannery consists in the excellent and superior nature of the work, the skips when finished feeling soft to the touch, and presenting the appearance of a highly finished article; hence it is not a matter of surprise that they command keen competition in the Melbourne market, and are eagerly sought after by connoisseurs in this department of commerce. We have much pleasure in congratulating Mr Shiels on his new venture, and also the manager, for the careful, skillful, and tradesman like way in which he conducts the business for the principal, who is looked upon in the city as one of the leading tanners in Victoria. - Courier.

Traralgon Record, Friday, January 14, 1898, page 2.