Wool mill tourist attraction taking shape on Kangaroo Island

The KI Council granted approval for the $1.7-million development at Cygnet River at its July meeting, and by the end of the month, the sheds were already taking shape.

While the approval took months, committee member and shareholder Lachie Bell and his team of helpers were quick to erect the three shed frames.

The project is being made possible with a $900,000 Local Economic Recovery grant scheme set up the federal and state governments in the wake of the bushfires.

It was hoped the first stages of the facility, including a retail outlet, could be open by December.

KI Wool secretary Greg Johnsson said the wool mill would be something new for the island's tourism offering, while also recognising the history and importance of local wool producers.

KI Wool has 22 local producer members, shearing up to 800,000 kilograms of wool annually - roughly a third of the Island's wool clip.

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Mr Johnsson said the company has been going for 10 years. The idea was for shareholder producers to secure a premium price for the wool where possible, given its provenance could be traced back to KI.

The concept of a wool mill had also always been part of the plan.

And now the next step for the company was to process a portion of that wool, further adding value to the product, by cleaning and spinning the wool, creating garments and even possibly rugs.

The three-shed complex would include not only processing, spinning and knitting machinery, but also an interpretative display area with a 360-degree 3D cinema and retail outlet.

The local spinners and weavers group have been invited to set up shop in the facility, while the local school has also asked to be involved.

Eventually it is hoped the Bell family's old shearing shed, that has been on-farm for 80 years, will be incorporated after renovations, possibly as a cafe.

Discussions with SeaLink in regards to making it a venue on its tourism bus route had also commenced.

KI Wool has already purchased a full wool scouring and drying processing plant from North Carolina, US.

Also sitting on site, ready to be installed, is Italian-made wool processing machinery that was secured from Orange, NSW.

A Shima Seiki knitting machine was purchased new from Japan and arrives later this month. It will be the first circular, seamless knitting machine in SA, and one of only a handful in Australia.

It was hoped that eventually up to seven new technical positions will be needed to run the mill.

Already on board is wool mill expert Emma Brien, who moved to KI last year and continues working on establishing the project.

Marketing employee and local Lucy McNaught would also be working on the fit out of the new facility.

The wool mill sits on 2 hectares leased from the Bell family and Bellevista Farms.

Water from the scouring process will be recycled on-site.

Mr Johnsson said the company was also looking at raising an additional $400,000 in capital to progress the project to its final stage, incorporating the old shearing shed.