The story behind Queensland Hosiery Mill Pty. Ltd.

Queensland Hosiery Mill Pty Ltd began as a small family run business that specialises in made to order socks for schools, sporting clubs and general uniform requirements.

The company was incorporated in March 1968 and was known as Golden Sun Hosiery Pty Ltd. It began with a working capital of $10,000, two machines and two staff being Ern Smith and his wife Marj the two founders of the company. They were responsible for everything involved in the manufacturing process – sourcing the raw materials, knitting, dyeing or bleaching, turning, toe-closing, quality inspection, packaging and delivery.

The business itself continued to grow. Along with this growth, the number of staff also grew. Ern’s only son Jim joined the business late in 1974.

Eventually the business began to run out of room. The company moved to Carrara to a purpose built factory, its present premises in 1989 when the name Queensland Hosiery Mill Pty Ltd was adopted. At this time the last of the original non-family shareholders was bought out and the business became fully family owned with Ern remaining managing director, his wife and son Jim directors and his two daughters also shareholders.

The business moved with 20 machines, which filled approximately half of the new machine room. It finally had a purpose built dye house, a huge yarn store necessitated by the long distances from which the yarn had to be purchased, a separate finishing and packing room, store house and office. The dye house had to be shut down in 2004 due to pressure from the local council with regards to their environmental policies.

Ern retired and passed the managing directorship to his son Jim in early 1998 but still remained the major shareholder along with his wife Marj.

The business has had its trials and tribulations along the journey but Ern’s dream lives on and thrives under his son’s management. Together with the early knowledge Jim gained from his father and his personal interest and capabilities with computers Jim has brought the business into the computer age. Much of our earlier machinery has been replaced with updated computer run models that are far more productive and versatile. The business has now grown to include 47 machines; employs 18 full time staff and up to 6 casuals depending on the season.

Ern began this business with a dream and a preparedness to do whatever it took to be successful. He wanted to build a business that revolved around his family. He can truly be proud of his achievements and we, his family, owe him and Marj a huge debt of gratitude for everything they went without in order to make this business a success. And a success it is, now reaching an annual turnover of $1.5 million dollars and still growing strong.