Person Page - 507

Newspaper-Articles

• 10 Jun 1947: £20,000 TO £5½ MILLIONS - Mr. H. Van de Velde Dead.
  Mr. Henri Van de Velde, who founded a new industry in Australia, has died suddenly in New York.
  Twenty-three years ago he took over the management of Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd. Then known as Sydney Felt and Textiles Ltd., it had a capital of £20,000 and had been formed three years before. At his death the company had a paid-up capital of £1,802,890 and controlled assets valued at nearly £5½ million.
  When Mr. Van de Velde took control of the company it manufactured upholstery felt and "bush blankets" in a tin shed in Alexandria. Now it has factories throughout Australia and through associated companies in New Zealand and South
  Africa.
  It scours and carbonises wool; manufactures wool tops; manufactures floor-felts, carpets, all kinds of wool and hair felts, footwear, footwear accessories, lambswool coats and rugs and men's clothing; it spins and weaves wool, and in New Zealand spins and weaves cotton. Mr. Van de Velde and a band of associates who were with him when he became managing director in 1924 introduced the manufacture of woollen felt into Australia in 1925. The company grew steadily, even during the depression years of the thirties. In 1936 its capital was £80.000 and since then its growth has been extraordinarily rapid. His associates say Mr. Van de Velde's success was the result of three characteristics - imagination, "gameness," and amazing skill as a negotiator.
  BORN IN BELGIUM
  A big man of commanding presence, he never grew "rattled." He was bom in Belgium, but even his closest friends do not know exactly when—"about 70 years ago" is the best they can say.
  He came to Sydney as a child, and as a young man he was a good heavyweight boxer and Jack Johnson sparred with him when he was training for the world heavyweight championship fight in Sydney.
  He plaved Rugby Union against the All Blacks in 1903, marking the famous W. J. Wallace.
  Before he joined Felt and Textiles he traded in—among other things—wool, butter, and groceries.
  In later life he became keenly interested in gardening, and his home at Leura is a show place.
  He is survived by Mrs. Van de Velde, two daughters (Miss Bertille Van de Velde and Mrs. P. Gilkes), and one son, Clement, of Durban, South Africa.⁶
• 11 Jun 1947: OBITUARY - MR. H. van de VELDE
  NEW YORK, Tuesday (A.A.P.) Mr. Henri van de Velde (69), founder and managing director of Felt and Textiles of Australia Ltd., died to-day. Mr. van de Velde founded his textile business in 1921, and expanded it to 85 factories and subsidiary concerns in New Zealand and South Africa. He became ill on April 18, while on a business visit to the United States.
  Mr. van de Velde's home was in Sydney. He leaves a widow and two daughters, Bertille van de Velde and Mrs. Paula Gilkes, both of Sydney; and a son, Clement, of Durban.⁷