Megalong Heritage Centre - Australian Wool History

HERITAGE FARM
Phone: (02) 4787 8188
Fax: (02) 4787 9116
Email: megalong@megalongcc.com

Office Hours 8am to 5.30pm

Australian Wool

History

1788 - 1838

Within 50 years of settlement, sheep had moved into every colony, the annual wool clip was over two million kg and wool had become our main export.

The first sheep arrived with the First Fleet - fat tailed sheep from the Cape of Good Hope, The Bengal breed arrived later from India. These sheep were mainly important for meat as their fleece was harsh and wiry

The first Merinos arrived in 1797 - a small number of the unique Spanish fine woolled Merinos from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

Some were sold to John Macarthur and Samuel Marsden., two pioneers of the wool industry. They began selective breeding by crossing their Merinos with other breeds in the colony.

On his arrival in 1900 Governor King saw the potential and benefit to the colony in producing wool. His vision led to the establishment of a textile industry with the setting up of a woolen mill at Parramatta.

The first auction of Australian Wool was held at Garraway's Coffee house in London in 1821 and bought $2.27 per kg.

To gain higher prices on the London market, sheep were washed before shearing, clean wool was packed in bales for shipment

Besides the Spanish breed, Saxon and Vermont Merino were imported together with breeds such as Lincoln, English Leister and Border Leicester. From these breeds sheep were evolved to suit the Australian climate.

Megalong Australian Heritage Centre, Megalong Rd, Megalong Valley
Blue Mountains NSW 2785, Phone (02) 4787 8188, Fax (02) 4787 9116