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.
This particular wool specimen was taken from sheep bred at Berrybank station, near Lismore in Victoria. Berrybank was one of the first Victorian properties to breed with Wanganella blood. Wanganella was one of the most prolific merino breeding properties in the 1800s and today over 70% of merinos in Australia are descended from their breeding stock.
Erika Dicker
Assistant Curator
September 2007
Reference:
Charles Massy. 'The Australian Merino', Penguin Books Australia Ltd, Victoria, 1990.
The wool was produced in 1890 by Joseph Mack in Lismore, Victoria, Australia.
In 1890 Alfred Hawkesworth, honorary wool-classer to the Museum, noted the following about this specimen:
Merino stud ram, No 636, by a Wanganella ram; dam station-bred ewe-station bred; took 2nd prize at Deniliquin, 4th Melbourne, 1st Albury, 1st Wagga Wagga, and 2nd Ballarat. On comparing this wool with the others there is not the least doubt as to its superior fineness, and it is one which must be placed in a fine merino grade. It is a specimen one cannot speak too highly of, its beautiful character, trueness of breeding, are of the highest order. The entire texture, with most excellent lustre and perfect condition makes a wool of a most inviting and beautiful structure. The growth is compact, free, even, and sound to the extremities of the tips, which are as perfect as is possible to produce in the most favoured districts. The length (3 ½ in, and when stretched over 4 in) is all that is required for the making of the finest combing dress goods. Fibres are very small, very regular throughout, with beautifully fine but distinct serrations which account for the great pliability. For purity, clearness, with soft kind nature, it would be a difficult task to find a better type in any flock, however well bred and cared for. As a sample of wool suited for any high-class goods, it would be one of the first chosen by users requiring all-round excellence. Spinning quality 80s, value 14 ¼ d per lb (Alfred Hawkesworth's valuation)
Alfred Hawkesworth, Technological Museum, Sydney, Descriptive Catalogue No 3. Raw wools and specimens to illustrate the woollen manufacture. Sydney Government Printer. 1890.
Originally donated by Joseph Mack, Berrybank, Lismore, Victoria., 1890.
This wool specimen is part of the Bill Montgomery Wool Collection which consists of approximately 7000 samples. In the older part of the collection there are 5000 samples from Australian sheep fleeces grown between 1856 and 1906. The samples were collected by the Museum at a time when scientific research was prominent in the Museum's activities. In 1979, when the Museum's focus changed, most of its wool collection was transferred to the teaching collection of Mr Bill Montgomery, a wool classing teacher at Newcastle Technical College. When Bill retired from the College, the collection was again in danger of being thrown away. He took the entire collection home and stored it in his garage for 15 years. His Collection also contains approximately 1500 wool samples grown between 1950 and 2000 and collected by Bill himself. It includes 147 examples of faults and stains occurring in Australian flocks, 20 pigmented wools and 33 rare and extinct breeds from around the world. The Museum purchased the entire collection in 2003. Bill Montgomery died on 7th July, 2007.
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