George Henry Michell founded the company G. H. Michell & Sons of wool brokers and processors at Undalya, South Australia around 1895, then in July 1903 purchased the wool-scouring works at 33 Adam Street, Hindmarsh, previously run by W. Peacock and Sons, and transferred all its activities there; all four sons were employed in the business. On 25 December 1907 his premises were destroyed in one of South Australia's largest fires, which commenced at W. H. Burford & Son's "Apollo Works" soap factory, and also destroyed George Wilcox's skin depot and a number of houses. David Reid's tannery was spared. Another major fire, in 1943, at fellmonger David Jowitt and Sons, spared both Michell's and Burford's factories, but on 24 April 1945, yet another fire destroyed their wool treatment factory at the corner of Mandon and Adam Streets. In 1938 the company was listed on the Melbourne Stock Exchange with a signed-up capital of £500,000 in £1 shares. The wool business thrived during wartime, and major expansion was carried out on Adam Street, but expansion onto South Road was opposed by nearby residents, no doubt on account of the smell which accompanies wool processing. In 1947 a new private company, G. H. Michell & Sons Ltd., was formed with a nominal capital of £100,000 and two shareholders: R. J. and G. H. Michell. In 1947 a new company "Woolcombers Pty. Ltd." was formed in Perth, Western Australia with a nominal capital of £300,000. A factory was opened in Fremantle Ronald James Michell, WilliamEdward Michell, George Edward Michell, Colin Edgar Michell and Gwendolyn Elva Hastings were the first directors.
George Henry Michell
George Henry Michell came to South Australia from Hayle, Cornwall, with his wife Catherine and her widowed mother Catherine Donnithorne, by the iron sailing vessel "Trevelyan", reaching Adelaide on 21 March 1866. After a short time following his trade of bootmaker, he tried farming at Cudlee Creek then in 1870 moved to Undalya, where he made a start in the wool business by buying small lots from the farmers in the district, and scouring on the banks of the River Wakefield. He was noted for buying wool during slumps in trade; sometimes he was the only serious buyer at auctions. He retired in 1909, leaving the business to three of his sons. Apart from his business and his associations with the Hindmarsh Congregational Church, he took no prominent part in public affairs. His home was at "Stoneleigh", 29 John St, Hindmarsh.
George Henry Michell II, James Alfred Michell and Edgar Michell
Took over the business from their father in 1909. Brothers George Henry II, James Alfred and Edgar Michell with John White Mellor and Stanley Charles Mellor founded Commonwealth Agricultural Service Engineers and National Guarantee Corporation which failed in 1925. This company was found to have been set up fraudulently. Founded Hindmarsh Engineering Co. Ltd. with engineers Samuel Ward and John Albert Wesley in 1925 with offices in Adam Street, Hindmarsh.
Ronald James Michell
He was appointed to the Chamber of Manufactures in 1937 and M.D. of G. H. Michell and Sons in 1943. He started trade with China in 1949.
Howard Michell was awarded AC in 1990 for services to the wool industry and the arts. See separate article.
Raymond Michell AM
James Raymond Michell AM was appointed to the board in 1950, elected Chairman 1992 - 2002.
John Alfred Michell AM
Educated at Prince Alfred College, with G H Michell and Sons from 1949, was General Manager of the Michell Group of Companies 1978-2000 and prominent in a number of national and international bodies.
Peter Michell and David Michell
In 2004 Chairman David and MD Peter Michell set up a US$10 million scouring and carbonising plant at Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, China.
Family
George Henry Michell married Catherine Donnithorne in October 1865. Their six children were:
William Edward married Jessie Ada Mathews on 15 May 1895, lived at McDonnell Avenue, New Hindmarsh
George Henry Michell II. married Ann Jane . Their home was "Woollahra" at Parker Street, Mile End, then Fitzroy Terrace, Thorngate
Edgar married Lottie Richards, living at Undalya, then Lurline St, Kent Town, then "Undalya", The Esplanade, Henley Beach South and finally Fitzroy Terrace, Fitzroy.
James Alfred married Ethel Beatrice Shearing on 15 July 1903; they lived at "Highbury", Hughes Street, Mile End, South Australia then Churcher Street, Thorngate
Mary Ann married John Edward Isaacson on 22 November 1893, lived at "Kennedya", Undalya and "Stoneleigh", East Parade, Kensington Park
Gordon D Michell
Others
There is another Michell family for which there is evidence of a familial relationship :
Joseph Michell married Priscilla Joseph was a builder then market gardener who was killed in a horse carriage accident. They lived at 140 Gibson Street, Bowden, later Unley Park. Their children were
