Australia’s once plentiful native wildlife has learned to accept the many sheep grazing in paddocks that were once the domain of Kangaroos and Emus.

It was said in early Australian history the country economy “rode on the sheep’s back”.

We kept warm in our cold winters wearing wool garments produced from many of the worlds finest local sheep.

Learn about the “Million Dollar Bale” of wool in Australia’s local Geelong National Wool Museum where there are many rare working examples of wool production machinery from shearing through to stockings, and even a 100 year old Axminster carpet machine still operating.

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At the National Wool Museum, you will discover why fleece from

Australia’s sheep has been the heart of our economy for 200 years.

Since the arrival of sheep with the First Fleet in 1788, the wool industry has dominated our economy, our agriculture and our reputation as a quality wool-growing nation throughout the world.

Two hundred years later, in 1988, the National Wool Museum was established as Australia’s only comprehensive museum of wool.

Geelong is a city synonymous with wool and the wool industry – sheep farming began here in 1835 and the first of many woollen mills opened here in 1868.

For many years the city was known as the “wool centre of the world”.

Source: National Wool Museum Website

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Although Australia does not ride on the sheep’s back any longer the current sheep flock is about 15 million sheep, down from the 1990 total near 30 million.

The long drought seems to have broken and numbers are on the increase due to improved seasonal conditions. It will be some time though for the current wool production of 78 milllion kg’s to reach back to 1990 levels of over 200 million kg’s.

The ‘Golden Fleece’ exported is worth around $2 BILLION with Victoria’s share $552 Million so we have a lot to be thankful for from the humble Aussie sheep.