The wool collection held by the Powerhouse Museum contains thousands of wool samples collected between 1804 and 2003. These samples provide a record of wool growing in Australia. The different fleeces reflect the breeding programs and environmental conditions under which the fleeces were grown and, as such, they provide a valuable history of the areas of Australia in which sheep were grazed.

Sheep were introduced into Australia in 1788 from Cape Town in South Africa. Since then sheep from other countries, including the Spanish merino were imported into Australia and selectively crossbred. Careful crossbreeding, paying particular attention to the impact of the environment on both animal and fleece, led to the evolution of the Australian Merino. It is an excellent example of the engineering, through selective breeding, of a domestic animal. Wool went on to become the mainstay of the Australian Economy from 1807 to 1960.

The wool was produced in 1904 by George Merriman in Yass, New South Wales, Australia.

Donated by M P A Jamieson, Barnaby, Taralga, New South Wales, 1904.

Sire 'Sterling' by 'Primus' by 'President'. Dam, a Ravensworth Stud Ewe.
Cut weighed 21lbs.

Wool specimens (4) and exhibition label, stud ram 'Decimal', bred by George Merriman, Ravensworth, Yass, New South Wales, Australia, 1904

Three wool specimens from two year old stud ram 'Decimal'.

Made: Merriman, George; Yass, New South Wales; 1904

F7648

1904