The wool was produced in 1890 by Cyrus and Charles Goulter in Hawkesbury, Marlborough, New Zealand.

In 1890 Alfred Hawkesworth, honorary wool-classer to the Museum, noted the following about this specimen:

Merino stud ewe; progeny of Tasmanian pure-bred stock, station-bred. As a specimen of a lengthy (measures 3 ½ inches without stretching), fine combing, it is a splendid exhibit, one that is full of high qualities required for the making of the finest combing fabrics; there appears to be nothing wanting, and it is a success in every respect. The staples are full, bold, and truly proportioned all through, without any wasty or noily ends which show the light black soil, evidently the kind of country on which the sheep grazed. The condition and brightness are excellent, and the wool having a very taking appearance to which may be added softness and silkiness. The fibres are fine, sound, pure, regular, with a nice crimp, are very elastic and of good draught. Is a splendid dyeing wool and would make grand warp yarns. When combed would give the best of returns, being free from the presence of any impurities. Spinning quality 94s, value 13 ¾ d per lb (Alfred Hawkesworth's valuation).

The excellent judgement and great care shown in the choice of such a comprehensive selection (F812-F841), and the neat packaging, are deserving of a special mention. As an educational and instructive collection, this is one of the most perfect in the whole of this wool section, and one that fully illustrates the three distinct grades of merino combing-wools, viz, fine, medium, and string. The wide assortment gives an especially good opportunity of comparison, and therefore of seeing the great necessity of keeping the different lengths and qualities separate when presenting them to the buyers. It is a difficult matter to give an opinion as to which of the three distinct types have done best, as all are in a bright, healthy, and sound condition, and all are apparently equally suitable to the locality. The district is one of the best in New Zealand for agricultural purposes, being temperate and bracing, these circumstances having a very beneficial effect upon the condition and lustre, these two being most excellent properties of these wools.

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 Messrs Cyrus and Charles Goulter, Hawkesbury, Marlborough, New Zealand, 1891.

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.

Wool specimen, stud ewe, bred by Cyrus and Charles Goulter, Hawkesbury, Marlborough, New Zealand, 1890-1891

A wool specimen from a station bred stud ewe descended from pure Tasmanian blood. There is a black ribbon tied around the middle of the specimen and a small green tag attached to the ribbon.

This sample of wool was tested in June 2007 by the Interactive Wool Group. They used the OFDA2000 instrument for fleece testing. The following are the results for this specimen:

Microns: 19.6 microns (3 Standard Deviation)
(average fibre diameter)

Staple length: 75mm

Mean fibre curvature: 106.9 Dg/mm
(A measurement in degrees
per mm related to
crimp frequency)

Comfort Factor: 99.7 %
(The % of fibres equal
to or less than 30 microns)

Made: C and C Goulter; New Zealand; 1890 - 1891

Green tag reads 'F822 / Stud Ewe / Pure Tasmanian / blood' and on reverse 'No 11 / C H Goulter / New Zealand'.

F822

1890 - 1891

115 mm

50 mm