About Us

Hilton Fabrics was founded in Ballarat in 1888 in the back room of the home of Eleanor Lucas, a widow with four children. By 1898 the business had expanded and Lucas took on a partner by the name of Edward Price. In 1903 the business moved to a larger premises and boasted the use of electric power motors, the first in Ballarat. In 1907 the business once again moved to a larger premises and employed 220 employees. The business continued to grow and new dimensions were taken to include its own knitting and dyeing facilities. In 1938 the business employed 500 workers. Disaster hit in 1945 when a fire burnt down the factory. The business took on screen-printing until the factory was rebuilt in 1946. In 1968 the business was sold and became part of an international company by the name of Courtaulds. The business was again sold in 1984 to become part of the Bradmill Group. Ownership changed hands again in 1986 when its current owner purchased the business to become part of the family owned Australian group.

Today, Hilton Fabrics is primarily engaged in the dyeing and finishing of quality woven fabrics offering a complete range of textile finishes to local weavers and importers of greige fabric.