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Story: Nelson region

Thomas Blick and Blick cloth

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Thomas Blick and Blick cloth

English weaver Thomas Blick established a woollen mill in Upper Brook Street, Nelson, in 1845. He employed German immigrant women, including members of the Bensemann and Eggers families. The women spun sheep’s wool to produce a strong, almost waterproof fabric known as Blick cloth that was used for police uniforms.

Using this item

Nelson Provincial Museum

Reference: Tyree Studio Collection 69435 (left); A1250 EC.146.66 (right)

Permission must be sought from Nelson Provincial Museum before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Nelson region – Farming, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28866/thomas-blick-and-blick-cloth (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 3 September 2010, updated 1 August 2015.