This coat was produced from wool first shorn in c.1928. In 1928 Mr Mal Groves took over the Dutchman Station near Port Augusta in South Australia. Whilst out riding in some rough country he came across a sheep that had been left by the previous owner of the station. As he carried shears with him, he sheared the sheep and left the fleece rolled up and partially covered by rocks and wood, as he had no bag to carry it back with him. He intended to come back for the fleece, but forgot about it until he came across it some forty years later. It was still in good condition (despite having experienced extreme temperatures and rainfall whilst in the open), so he showed it to Elders who arranged to display it at agricultural shows in Adelaide, Melbourne and Geelong. The Gordon Institute of Technology, Geelong, offered to spin the fleece into a fabric and make a coat for Mrs Groves. The fabric was tailored into a coat by Lindsay and McKenzie of Geelong and presented to Mrs Groves in July 1968 by the South Australian manager of Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort Ltd. It is not know how the coat came to Elders from the Groves family, but Elders displayed the coat under the heading "The Fleece That Would Not Die" before donating it to the National Wool Museum in 1997. A video giving the history of the coat and a text panel used by Elders were also donated at the same time.Coat, brown wool. Long sleeves, knee length with three circular brown buttons and two external pockets. Lined in brown satin, with a blue and red label at the base of the collar.Wording: Solo;Method: Embroidered;Location: Label at base of collar, inside coat Wording: PURE WOOL;Method: Printed;Location: Label on side seam, inside coatfashion wool - characteristics wool processing textile mills textile mills, lindsay and mckenzie elders limited gordon technical college, royal adelaide show - exhibition (31/08/2001 - 08/09/2001), groves, mr mal groves, mrs, dutchman station, south australia, fashion, wool - characteristics, wool processing, textile mills

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 258 / "JANINE" / See page 11 / 7dhandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for men. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 228 / "GORDON" / See page 11 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for men. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter. It was produced during World War II and contains both service and civilian patterns, including a pattern for an amputation cover for either an arm or leg.Front cover of Patons and Baldwins Specialty Knitting Book no. 132. Contains WWII patterns. Back cover of Patons and Baldwins Specialty Knitting Book no. 132. Contains WWII patterns.PATONS & BALDWINS' / SPECIALTY / Knitting Book / No. 132 / 6 1/2D.handicrafts - history knitting world war ii, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting, world war ii

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons Knitting Book No. 276 / 'GLOUCESTER' - See page 12 / P&B WOOLS / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

Group photograph, possibly depicting the staff of a Geelong woollen mill, c.1880s.Photograph of the staff of a Geelong Woollen Mill, c.1880s.Geelong Wollen Mills [sic] / Taken in early 80'stextile industry - history textile mills - history textile mills - staff, geelong woollen mills, textile industry - history, textile mills - history, textile mills - staff

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / no. 203 / "THAMAR" / See page 4 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.No. / 434 / Patons / KNITTING / BOOK / No. 434 / PATONS / AZALEA / DOUBLE QUICK / BEEHIVE 3-PLY / BEEHIVE 4-PLY / BEEHIVE CREPE / PATONYLE / CATKIN / P&B / WOOLS / 1'3handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 350 / 8 DESIGNS / 1'4d. / P&B / WOOLShandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons Knitting Book / no. 171 / "JENNY" / See page 16 / 7d. / A PATONS & BALDWINS' PUBLICATIONhandicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.PATONS & BALDWINS' / SPECIALTY / Knitting Book / No. 112 / 6D.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 222 / "QUICK STEP" / With or / Without Stripes / See page 9 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / No. 264 / "FELICITY" / See page 8 / 7d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 352 / P&B / WOOLS / 1'6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Patons KNITTING BOOK no. 319 / "NOLEEN" - See page 8. / P&B / WOOLS / 1'-handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney and contains patterns of knitted garments for women. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Knitting / Book / DESIGN No. / 3218 / PAGE 2 / Series 83 / 7d.handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Knitting / Book / SERIES 85 / 7d. / DESIGN No. 3208 / Instructions on Page 5handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / KNITTING BOOK / SERIES / 52 / DESIGN No. / 2535 / Instructions Page 2 / Price / 7d.handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Frock / Book / DESIGN No. / 2426 / Page 20 / SERIES 50 / containing ... / MODEL FROCKS / and SUITS / 1'3handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Knitting / Book / DESIGN NO / 3540 / PAGE 2 / Series 111 / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Knitting / Book / DESIGN No. 3401 / Instructions on Page 9 / 1'3 / Series 99handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Sun-glo / Knitting Book / DESIGN No. 3434 / PAGE 3 / SERIES ONE HUNDRED AND TWO / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.SERIES 124 / DESIGN No. / 3901 / PAGE 5 / Sun-glo / Knitting Book / 7 1/2dhandicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd at the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Twin-Prufe / KNITTING BOOK / DESIGN No. / 4241 / PAGE 5 / 1'. / SERIES 149 / AN F.W. HUGHES PRODUCTIONhandicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes pty ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by F.W. Hughes Industries Ltd at the Alexandria Spinning Mills, Sydney. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.HUGHES / KNITTING BOOK / 1'6 / FWH / SYDNEY / BOOK No. / 207 / LADIES DESIGNS 32-36" / INCLUDING TWO SMART HAT DESIGNS / Featuring / Twinprufe CROCHET, 3 PLY CREPE, / DOUBLE CREPE & Bulkyknit / F.W. HUGHES INDUSTRIES LTD., 30 GROSVENOR STREET, SYDNEY, N.Shandicrafts - history knitting, alexandria spinning mills pty ltd f.w. hughes industries ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the Lincoln Mills in Coburg, Victoria. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.LINCOLN / Hand Knit / STYLE LEADERS / for / Milady / BOOK No. 145 / 6D. / LINCOLN / Model No. L1008handicrafts - history knitting, lincoln mills (australia) limited, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the English Woman's Weekly and given away free with a copy of that magazine. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Presented / with / WOMAN'S / WEEKLY / FAMILY / KNITTING IN / THICK WOOLhandicrafts - history knitting, english woman's weekly, handicrafts - history, knitting

This book was produced by the English Woman's Weekly and given away free with a copy of that magazine. It was owned by Billie Rech, the aunt of the donor, who was a great knitter.Presented with / English / WOMAN'S / WEEKLY / RIBBED JUMPER / WITH TWO-COLOUR YOKE / 6ozs. and 1oz. of 3-ply Fingeringhandicrafts - history knitting, english woman's weekly, handicrafts - history, knitting