The Importance of the Wool Industry in Australia

Gracie with her woolen blanket

The Wool industry is very important in NSW. The first sheep came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. Governor Phillip had obtained them from the Cape of Good Hope on the voyage to the new colony. With their hairy fleeces and fat tails, they were intended for food, not wool production.  In 1796, John Macarthur bought his first merino sheep from a flock of Spanish merino sheep. Other farmers in the region also bought merino sheep in 1796, but they cross-bred their merinos with other breeds, which resulted in coarse wool of a low quality. John Macarthur, however, was smart. He kept his merino flock pure bred.  The quality of the wool increased and he started to export wool in 1807.
He paved the way for the wool industry in Australia to become one our greatest. Australia has been ‘riding the sheep’s back’ for many years. The wool industry has kept the Australian economy strong throughout history, and it still remains one of the most important industries in Australia today! 



Aaron working hard filming

Did you know that 40% of the nation’s wool is processed and manufactured in New South Wales? It is certainly true that the NSW textiles industry has access to some of the best raw materials in Australia.

Australia is the world’s largest supplier of wool for the clothing trade; we contribute two-thirds of the wool sold on world markets – a trade which is worth more than $3 billion a year.

So why wool is so highly sought after? What makes it such a valuable resource?
Wool is a natural fibre which is environmentally friendly. Wool fibres are mostly made of protein with a small amount of fat, calcium and sodium. It has a great ability to absorb moisture and is resistant to soiling. Wool is comfortable in a wide range of weather; cool in summer and warm in winter.

“The wool industry is very important to Australia and to me. Wool allows us to have fabrics of different weights so they are suitable for all types of weather, because it keeps the warm air in during cold weather periods, and it also keeps you cool during warm weather because of air pockets! It’s amazing stuff!” – Shania Perry, Year 8 Hills Adventist College

Unlike synthetic materials, wool breaths, and is very comfortable to wear. Wool can be dyed, and it easily stay’s in shape. It is also fire resistant; so firefighters rely on sheep to make their uniforms, because it tends to char rather than burn and when ignited so it burns slowly.

Eileen with her woolen scarf

Wool is soft, durable and safe, and is used for many different products besides clothing. This includes blankets, horse rugs, saddle cloths, carpeting, felt, wool insulation and upholstery, wool felt covers, piano hammers, and is also used to absorb odours and noise in heavy machinery and stereo speakers.

Wool has also traditionally been used to cover cloth diapers as wool fibre exteriors are hydrophobic and the interior is hygroscopic.

Today, however, the majority of clothing products are not made completely from wool, if at all. Many are made from synthetic substitutes, which look like wool, but aren’t as nice. They may be more prickly or less resistant to soiling or burning.

Wool is allergen free and its harvest is humane. Unlike leather and other materials, the animal is not killed – in fact, the more alive, the better! It has many amazing benefits and hardly any negatives at all.It is a huge part of Australian culture and well being. Without the wool industry, we wouldn’t have  many important items, including beanies, socks, scarves, school jumpers (just imagine how cold it would be at school!), blankets, firefighter uniforms, carpet, lanolin and many other products which we generally take for granted!

Dominic with his woolen booties!

Australia is the largest wool-producing country in the world, and NSW makes a big difference in the amount of wool we export annually. The wool industry in NSW hugely supports the nation’s economy, provides for our needs, and contributes to Australian culture.  We have tens of thousands of wool producing properties and the production of this amazing fibre is one of the most significant and important uses of our farmland.

“Well, to sum up, wool has many uses and is important to the Australian Economy. It is used in all walks of life and plays a big role in our world.” –Madi Worker, Year 8 Hills Adventist College





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