Mosgiel Woollen Factory
The Mosgiel Woollen Factory Company, established in 1873, was the major local employer of girls and women in Mosgiel, near Dunedin. The establishment of such large factories needed capital. Companies whose owners had personal links to willing investors and political figures grew rapidly. Arthur Burns, the son of Thomas Burns (a key figure in the the settlement of Otago), was involved in establishing the Mosgiel Woollen Factory.
The Mosgiel Woollen Mill built in 1871 in Factory Road, was the second woollen mill to open in New Zealand. The mill was integral to the town and a significant employer from when it opened until the end of the 20th century when it closed.[5]