Knitting Factory Coraki
The Forrest family were living in Coraki and George Forrest was a builder and contractor. Catherine Forrest made a trip to Melbourne to visit her sister who had some kind of knitting factory. She bought the outfit and returned home with this rather heavy equipment and she and her two daughters, Amy and Marie set up in business.
Knitted bathing suits were very popular at that time – the short pants with a separate tunic over them. They used good wool and the heavy machines did very good work. Knitted ladies suits were also fashionable and the Forrest’s turned out beautiful suits. They usually had a trimming of Fair Isle around the hem.
“Mrs. Forrest; who controls the work room, has the mastery of some 240 different stitches, which explains the variety and beauty of the designs displayed in the finished work.” source
When they were really well established, they rented the old Municipal building in Richmond Terrace. Catherine added to her plant and also to her staff. She employed several girls beside Amy and Marie. They soon established a good connection with all the large shops in the area such as:- AGR’S, McLean’s and also shops in Casino and Ballina. The orders were mostly sent off by river boat. They moved to Brisbane in 1928.
Farming & Industry
