Part of a collection of books, manuals, photographs, letters and clothing relating to the working life of Stuart Ascough. Stuart's career in the wool industry spanned over 43 years from 1960 to 2003 in various roles including Topmaking Plant Manager at Courtaulds Ltd. in Spennymore, U.K., Operations Manager at Port Phillip Mills in Williamstown Victoria, Marketing Executive, Early Stage Wool Processing at the International Wool Secretariat Melbourne, Australia and General Manager of Victoria Wool Processors Pty. Ltd. in Laverton North, Victoria. Throughout his career Stuart travelled extensively, and in the 1990s worked at many topmaking mills in China on quality improvement projects. He also provided technical advice and training at mills in India, Ukraine, Lithuania, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Latvia, Byelorussia and other parts of Europe and Asia.Concertina A4 sized leaflet outlining the history of wool in Australia from 1788 to 1988 in four pages with colour graphics and black text.page 1: Wool in Australia / 1 7 8 8 - 1 8 3 8 / Within 50 years of settlement sheep had moved into / every colony, the annual wool clip was over two / million kg, and wool had become our main export page 2: Wool in Australia / 1 8 3 8 - 1 8 8 8 / The first 100 years saw Australia become the / world's leading producer of wool. Our economy's / strength depended on the wool clip. page 3: Wool in Australia / 1 8 8 8 - 1 9 3 8 / By the late 1930's, wool represented over 62% of / the total export value of primary products. Australia's / fine wool was in great demand worldwide. page 4: Wool in Australia / 1 9 3 8 - 1 9 8 8 / In the 50 years leading up to our Bicentenary, / many developments in the sheep and wool / industry have maintained Australia's place / as the leading producer of wool.stuart ascough, international wool secretariat, victoria wool processors, port phillip mills pty ltd, topmaking, career, wool industry, mills, leaflet

One of fifty one photographs originally in a photo album found in the National Wool Museum’s office. The album was water damaged and the images were removed for conservation. The images follow the process of wool. Beginning in a sheep paddock and finishing as a folded fabric. It includes all the steps in between in this process, including shearing, transporting, selling, washing and the many different steps in the process of turning a single thread of wool into fabric.Black and white image showing interior view of wool bales on display.AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PUBLICITY / ASSOCIATION / FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY BUILDING, / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA / W1 / W1. Wool displayed.wool industry, working life, women, boonoke station, farming, sheep farming, agriculture, sheep stations, transport, wool processing, shearing, textile industry, wool

One of fifty one photographs originally in a photo album found in the National Wool Museum’s office. The album was water damaged and the images were removed for conservation. The images follow the process of wool. Beginning in a sheep paddock and finishing as a folded fabric. It includes all the steps in between in this process, including shearing, transporting, selling, washing and the many different steps in the process of turning a single thread of wool into fabric.Black and white image showing a man working at vats dyeing wool.AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PUBLICITY / ASSOCIATION / FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY BUILDING, / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA / W28 / W28. Dyeing Wool.wool industry, working life, women, boonoke station, farming, sheep farming, agriculture, sheep stations, transport, wool processing, shearing, textile industry, wool

Humorous photographs of overseas wool buyers in Australia around late 1930s. Photographs have names of wool buyers on the rear of the image. Images were a joke between wool buyers created by superimposing the head of the wool buyer on a famous person's torso. Some images also have name of famous person's torso on rear.26 Photographs in total. Each has a famous person's torso with the face of a overseas wool buyer superimposed on top. On the rear of the image is the name of the overseas wool buyer.Photographs have names of wool buyers on the rear of the image. Some images also have name of famous person's torso on rear. Inscriptions are written in pencil and are have a cursive fontwool sales

Photograph of the side of the Goonawarra loading wool at Melbourne. Allan Charles Quinn worked on the Goonawarra during 1946. The Goonawarra worked between Sydney, Melbourne, Palmyro Island, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Panama Canal, Falworth, Le Havre and Goteborg.The Allan Charles Quinn collection is a collection of letters and photographs taken and written when Allan went to sea at 16 years of age. They provide a snapshot of life at sea in the period immediately following World War II.Black and white photograph of the Goonawarra at berth in Melbourne, loading wool.Black in on reverse: Goonawarra loading wool at/ Melbourne 13 Jan 1946allan-charles-quinn, goonawarra, sydney, melbourne, palmyro-island, san-francisco, los-angeles, panama-canal, falmouth, le-havre, goteborg

Sash to commemorate the opening of The National Wool Museum. White rectangle sash with black lettering to commemorate opening of National Wool Museum."To commemorate the opening of The National Wool Museum By the Premier of Victoria the Hon. John Cain M.P. on 21st December, 1988"premier of victoria, john cain, 1988, national wool museum, geelong

Box of samples representative of the official standards of the United States for grades of wool, obtained from USA Department of Agriculture.Box of samples representative of the official standards of the United States for grades of wool.T-83 NOVEMBER 15....65 Elroy M Pople IN CHARGE LIVESTOCK DIVISION WOOL LABORATORYwool measurement, woolclassing objective measurement, usa: dept of agriculture port phillip mills pty ltd, wool - measurement, woolclassing - objective measurement

About the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games donor Doug Pleasance wrote- During the 1980's the Australian wool industry was at its most prosperous times with record numbers of sheep producing wool receiving ever increasing values due to the success of the Reserve Price Scheme, and the overall guidance of the Australian Wool Corporation (AWC). As a humble technician, my role was a low profile newly created position of Controller, Technical Marketing where wool was to be marketed on its technical properties, as distinct from the Product Marketing Group which exploited the traditional high profile approach of marketing wool's superior fashion attributes. The Woolmark was the tool central to this approach. The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games saw an evolutionary change in designer selection. A Declaration of Interest Form was communicated to over forty potential designers. The task and especially tight timelines that were involved deterred many aspirants, however, there remained eight designers with the potential we were seeking. These eight designers were paid $3,000 per submission and the winning designer, Wendy Powitt, was paid $15,000. For the first time the judging panel included two athletes, one male swimmer and one female basketballer, their influence was pivotal. The ensemble consisted of three elements- 1. The Official Uniform which was used for travel and all official functions. This included: a tailored blazer and trouser/skirt (all water repellent) by Fletcher Jones, pure wool olive-green faille fabric by Foster Valley, cotton PE formal shirt by Pelaco, pure wool knitwear by Spangaro, printed wool tie by TD Noone, wool nylon socks by Holeproof and footwear by Hush Puppy. 2. Opening Ceremony Uniform a lightweight wool fabric printed with floral designs that had been inspired by the work of Australian artist Margaret Preston. This included: Lightweight W/PE shorts by Fletcher Jones in Foster Valley Fabric, socks by Holeproof and footwear by Hush Puppy. 3. Village Clothing was designed to be highly visible garments to make it easy to spot the Aussie and helped to contribute to good team spirit. This included: A pure wool shirt featuring blocks of contrasting colours, and a newly developed stretch 50:50 wool/cotton fabric by Bradmill was made into shorts and jeans by Fletcher Jones.8144.1 - Men's cream coloured shorts. Manufactured from a cotton and wool blend fabric. 8144.2 - Cream fabric sample with labels attached. 8144.3 - Cream fabric sample. 8144.4 - Cream fabric sample.8144.1 - On label- FLETCHER JONES 60% Wool, 40% Cotton 8144.2 - Stapled label- WOOL COTTON 50:50 STRETCH1992 barcelona olympics, sport, athletes, fashion, design, uniform

Box of samples representative of the official standards of the United States for grades of wool top, obtained from USA Department of Agriculture.Box of samples representative of the official standards of the United States for grades of wool top.T-19 APRIL 7.. 66 Elroy M Pople IN CHARGE LIVESTOCK DIVISION WOOL LABORATORYwool measurement, woolclassing objective measurement, usa: dept of agriculture port phillip mills pty ltd, wool - measurement, woolclassing - objective measurement

Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Advertisement "Wool Blankets"Wool Blankets/Your best buy for warmth...for beauty...for wear/There is no substitute for WOOLwool, blankets, blanket fever, advertisement, australian wool bureau, australian women's weekly

Poster, promoting Pure New Wool.Laminated poster depicting a bar scene with a man sitting on a stool with women's legs, with the wording "Appearances can be deceptive but you can trust the wool that wears the WOOLMARK."Appearances can be deceptive/ but you can trust the wool/ that wears the WOOLMARK.wool marketing, poster, gender, bar, ephemera, advertising

One of fifty one photographs originally in a photo album found in the National Wool Museum’s office. The album was water damaged and the images were removed for conservation. The images follow the process of wool. Beginning in a sheep paddock and finishing as a folded fabric. It includes all the steps in between in this process, including shearing, transporting, selling, washing and the many different steps in the process of turning a single thread of wool into fabric.Black and white image showing bales of wool being loaded onto a ship.AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PUBLICITY / ASSOCIATION / FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY BUILDING, / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA / W41 Loading bales of wool on to / a ship for transport overseas.wool industry, working life, women, boonoke station, farming, sheep farming, agriculture, sheep stations, transport, wool processing, shearing, textile industry, wool

This cap was part of a media kit produced by Melba Industries, part of the Austrim Textiles Group. The kit was given away at a media launch to publicise the production of an Australian made, nylon wool pack called 'Jumbuck'. The packs will be made at the former Valley Mill in Geelong. This launch occurred on 21 July 2000 and was attended by Andrew Moritz, National Wool Museum Director, who collected this media kit for the museum collection.Part of media kit for launch of 'Jumbuck', Australian made nylon wool packs produced by Melba Industries (part of the Austrim Textiles Group) in Geelong.JUMBUCK / AUSSIE-MADE WOOL PACKS Melba Industries 80% WOOL / 20% VISCOSE / ONE SIZE FITS ALL / HAND WASH ONLY / MADE IN CHINAblack, mr lindsay - melba industries (an austrim nylex ltd company) austrim nylex ltd valley worsted mill, jumbuck wool pack

"Shepherd's Festival, Markgroningen, Germany" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series."Shepherd's Festival, Markgroningen, Germany" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series.Prepared by the Department of Education, International Wool Secretariat, Dorland House, 18-20 Regent St Londonwool marketing, international wool secretariat, dept of education

Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Advertisement "Brighten up your bedroom with Wool"A Timely Home Decorator's Hint from the Australian Wool Bureau/Brighten up your bedroom with Wool/There is no substitute for WOOLwool, blanket, blanket fever, advertisement, australian wool bureau, australian women's weekly

Note from collector- "For more than 100 years blankets were made all over Australia in over 100 woollen mills. My aim, is to preserve 100 examples of these wonderful pieces of history. Ten years ago I started collecting the iconic Onkaparinga travel rugs, so that on movie nights at home there would be plenty to go around. Everyone had their favourite; even the cat had his own – a small red tartan one. Keeping an eye out for those travel rugs at op-shops and markets, collectable stores and bazaars, led to noticing vintage blankets. I'd never really thought about them before or paid much attention though of course I had grown up with them at my grandmother's. When I discovered my first Laconia cream blanket with blue stripes, my eyes just went gaga. Well that was it, I was hooked and since then over 500 blankets have passed through my hands. These common, everyday items, found in all households for so many decades, were traditional engagement gifts. Pairs were prized wedding presents turning into family heirlooms. They were fashionable dressers of beds, givers of warmth, bestowers of security and reliability. The comfort found in these objects resonates with almost all of us; we grew up with them ourselves or fondly recall them in a grandparent’s home. There is no modern replacement with the integrity of these old blankets, many of them now older than most of us. They are romantic, sensible, special, familiar, nostalgic and nothing else feels so appropriate in so many situations. No offense to the great Aussie doona, but from hippie to hipster, at a music festival, picnic, campsite or couch, a vintage blanket is something coveted by all. This industry that employed tens of thousands and must have been such a huge contributor to the economy is almost completely lost now. Blanket Fever is an ode to everything that came before: the land, the sheep, the shearers, the hands, the mills, the weavers, the designers, the distributors, the department stores. To the grandparents that gave them, the people that received them, the families that kept them; thank you. I’m passionate about my collection of Australian blankets manufactured in mostly Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania from the 1930s to the end of the 1960s. The collection has blankets from each of these four decades representing the styles and fashions of their time and includes dated advertisements which help determine the eras the blankets are from." Advertisement "There is no substitute for wool" (Blanket range)Wool Blankets to bring exciting new glamour into your bedroom/There is no substitute for Woolblankets, blanket fever, advertisements, australian wool bureau, australian women's weekly

One of fifty one photographs originally in a photo album found in the National Wool Museum’s office. The album was water damaged and the images were removed for conservation. The images follow the process of wool. Beginning in a sheep paddock and finishing as a folded fabric. It includes all the steps in between in this process, including shearing, transporting, selling, washing and the many different steps in the process of turning a single thread of wool into fabric.Black and white image showing two men loading wool bales onto a motor transport vehicle.AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL PUBLICITY / ASSOCIATION / FLINDERS STREET RAILWAY BUILDING, / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA / W68 / W68. Loading wool bales on to / a motor transport.wool industry, working life, women, boonoke station, farming, sheep farming, agriculture, sheep stations, transport, wool processing, shearing, textile industry, wool

"Festival of St Catherine, Siena, Italy" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series."Festival of St Catherine, Siena, Italy" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series.Prepared by the Department of Education, International Wool Secretariat, Dorland House, 18-20 Regent St Londonwool marketing, international wool secretariat, dept of education

"Nativity Festival, Les Baux, France" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series."Nativity Festival, Les Baux, France" - Dept of Education, International Wool Secretariat, part of the Festivals of the World Series.Prepared by the Department of Education, International Wool Secretariat, Dorland House, 18-20 Regent St Londonwool marketing, international wool secretariat, dept of education

A thousand years of Warrnambool history has been documented in this creative tapestry, woven in 1988. The Tapestry hangs in the Great Circle Gallery at Flagstaff Hill and complements the theme of the display. Three local women with the help of Museum staff researched and designed the tapestry, which was woven in 1988 from wool and cotton. It is 10 meters long and 70 cm deep and took 7 months to create. The tapestry introduces the seafaring theme of the Center and illustrates a timeline of events dating back to the arrival of Europeans in the Warrnambool area. It begins with the settlement of the area by Europeans and travels back in time as you walk further into the gallery, depicting shipwrecks along the coast, whaling of the area, early exploration by Europeans James Grant and Nicholas Baudin, back to the indigenous settlement of the area, represented by middens and indigenous symbols. (Interestingly prior to being hung in the gallery, the tapestry was originally hung with the intention of being framed from right to left). All materials in the cotton and wool tapestry, includinghand-dyed dyed wool, were prepared for a cost of $33,000. (This information is from Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village's Exhibit fact sheet)Tapestry of the early history of Warrnambool area, rectangular in shape. Materials include cotton and wool, some of the wool being hand dyed. Made in 1988 by local women.A plaque accompanies the Tapestry "Flagstaff Hill Maritime Tapestry / 1989 / Tapestry: Woven Cotton and Wool / Mary O'Brien Gerda Shanley / Judith Stewart Beryl Conlan"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, tapestry, warrnambool history, warrnambool textiles, south west victoria history, south west victoria timeline, indigenous people

About the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games donator Doug Pleasance wrote- During the 1980s the Australian wool industry was at its most prosperous times with record numbers of sheep producing wool receiving ever increasing values due to the success of the Reserve Price Scheme, and the overall guidance of the Australian Wool Corporation (AWC). As a humble technichian, my role was a low profile newly created position of “Controller, Technical Marketing” where wool was to be marketed on its technical properties, as distinct from the “Product Marketing Group” which exploited trhe traditional high profile approach of marketing wool;s superior fashion attributes. The Woolmark was the tool central to this approach. The 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games saw an evolutionary change in designer selection. A Declaration of Interest Form was communicated to over forty potential designers. The task and especially tight timelines that were involved deterred many aspirants, however, there remained eight designers with the potential we were seeking. These eight designers were paid $3,000 per submission and the winning designer, Wendy Powitt, was paid $15,000. For the first time the judging panel included two athletes, one male swimmer and one female basketballer, their influence was pivotal. The ensemble consisted of three elements- 1. The Official Uniform which was used for travel and all official functions. This included: a tailored blazer and trouser/skirt (all water repellent) by Fletcher Jones, pure wool olive-green faille fabric by Foster Valley, cotton PE formal shirt by Pelaco, pure wool knitwear by Spangaro, printed wool tie by TD Noone, wool nylon socks by Holeproof and footwear by Hush Puppy. 2. Opening Ceremony Uniform a lightweight wool fabric printed with floral designs that had been inspired by the work of Australian artist Margaret Preston. This included: Lightweight W/PE shorts by Fletcher Jones in Foster Valley Fabric, socks by Holeproof and footwear by Hush Puppy. 3. Village Clothing was designed to be highly visible garments to make it easy to ‘spot the Aussie’ and helped to contribute to good team spirit. This included: A pure wool shirt featuring blocks of contrasting colours, and a newly developed stretch 50:50 wool/cotton fabric by Bradmill was made into shorts and jeans by Fletcher Jones.8340.1 - A pair of men's green shorts made from a wool blend fabric. 8340.2 - Green sample fabric with labels attached. 8340.3 - Green sample fabric.8340.1 - on label - FLETCHER JONES 8340.2 - on label - Wool PE. 80:20 PLAIN WEAVE SULZER LOOMolympics, 1992 barcelona olympics, olympic uniforms, wool, fletcher jones, wendy powitt, shorts

The yarn was made in Geelong in the late 1980's or early 1990's by local woolen manufacturer J.L. McGregor Pty Ltd. The company closed in the early 1990s. The McGregor family still live in the Geelong area.A ball of grey yarn, 50% wool and 50% acrylic with a plastic label surrounding the wool with the product details.On Label: McGregors 50 Grams at standard condition 50% Wool 50% Flame resistant Acrylic Below Logo: Wool and Nu Acrylicwool, j.l. mcgregor pty ltd, yarn, geelong wool, geelong, geelong woollen mills

This clock was owned by Mr Bruce Scott, the late husband of the donor. Mr Scott studied wool classing at the Melbourne Technical College in the 1930s. It is not known how this clock came to be in his possession. The clock was presented to Mr W. Stewart of the Australasia Wool Stress by his fellow employees on 1 July, 1890.Presentation clock made from slate with inlaid marble decoration. Brass plaque: "Presented to W. Stewart by his fellow employees, Australasia Wool Stores, 1st July 1890"PRESENTED TO W. Stewart / BY HIS FELLOW EMPLOYEES / Australasia Wool Stores / 1st July, 1890.australasia wool stores, stewart, mr w. - australasia wool stores

Photo depicts the Committee who organised the First Annual Picnic of the Employes of the Wool brokers Association Stores held at Schnapper Point, 23 March 1896Committee - First Annual Picnic of the Employes of the Wool brokers Association Stores held at Schnapper Point, 23 March 1896Committee - First Annual Picnic of the Employes of the Wool brokers Association Stores held at Schnapper Point, 23 March 1896wool stores - staff, woolbrokers association stores

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the fourth in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with blue ink illustrations and writing. It has a centrepiece-coloured emblem of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about wool studies relating to the health and productivity of wool sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about: - Wool scouring - Shearing - Lamb marking - Breeding - Fellmongering - Comparison between wool and artificial fibres - Characteristics of good wool - Wool selling methods - Established studs in Victoria - Award rates (1937-38)Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “CORONATION / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE SUBJECT Wool / SCHOOL Gordon Front Cover. Illustration’s colour, printed. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background.gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

"Souvenir: Trangie Agricultural Experiment Station; Official Opening of the Wool Research Laboratory and Stock Field Day, March 15, 1950".Souvenir booklet produced for the opening of the wool research laboratory and stock field day at Trangie Agricultural Experiment Station in NSW, 15 March 1950. Back cover of the souvenir booklet produced for the opening of the wool research laboratory and stock field day at Trangie Agricultural Experiment Station in NSW, 15 March 1950.SOUVENIR / TRANGIE / AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION / OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE / WOOL . RESEARCH . LABORATORY . & . STOCK . FIELD . DAY - MARCH 15TH. / 1950nsw; department of agriculture, trangie agricultural research station, nsw

Reproduction print of "Flora, a Spanish Sheep at Buckingham Palace,1849 ", a watercolour by Frederick Keyl (1823-1871), presented to the National Wool Museum by HRH Queen Elizabeth 11, April 28th, 1988.Red leather folder, presented by HRH Elizabeth II on her visit to the National Wool Centre in 1988. Red leather folder, presented by HRH Elizabeth II on her visit to the National Wool Centre in 1988. "Flora, a Spanish Sheep at Buckingham Palace,1849 ", print inside presentation folder from HRH Elzabeth II.ER/PRESENTED/ TO THE/ NATIONAL WOOL CENTRE/ GEELONG/ BY/ HER MAGESTY THE QUEEN/ 28TH APRIL 1988 "ER"

This media kit was produced by Melba Industries, part of the Austrim Textiles Group. It contains three photographs, as well as other company information. The photos depict Mr Alan Jackson, the chairman of Austrim, Mr Tom Quick, the general manager of technical textiles at Austrim, and a shot of the new packs being made in the old Valley Mill. The kit was given away at a media launch to publicise the production of an Australian made, nylon wool pack called 'Jumbuck'. The packs will be made at the former Valley Mill in Geelong. This launch occurred on 21 July 2000 and was attended by Andrew Moritz, National Wool Museum Director, who collected this media kit for the museum collection.Media kit from launch of 'Jumbuck', Australian made nylon wool packs made by Melba Industries (part of the Austrim Textiles Group) in Geelong. Contents of media kit produced for the launch of 'Jumbuck', Australian made nylon wool packs made by Melba Industries (part of the Austrim Textiles Group) in Geelong.Media Kit / JUMBUCK TM / AUSSIE-MADE WOOL PACKS / The Aussie-Made Pack / For A Cleaner Clipblack, mr lindsay - melba industries (an austrim nylex ltd company) austrim nylex ltd valley worsted mill, jumbuck wool pack, jackson, mr alan ao - austrim nylex ltd quick, mr tom - austrim nylex ltd