Winner of 2015 Expressions: the Wool Quilt PRize. Created by Lisa Davis. Artist statement: "The Art of Record Keeping" pays homage to the work of Ernst Haeckel, German zoologist and evolutionist from the late 1800s. Raw edge machine applique and intricate quilting combine to create texture and detail reminiscent of Haeckel's illustrations. Including parallel lines in the quilting echoes the idea of documentation"Black wool quilt with white wool shapes

This stencil was used as a location stamp for the transportation of wool bales. Leningrad, now Saint Petersburg is a Russian port city on the Baltic Sea. Wool bales marked LENINGRAD would have been transported to Russia by sea.Wool bale export stencil - LENINGRAD CARBONISEDLENINGRAD CARBONISEDwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

"Tally Hi" crutching - Australian Wool Board."Tally Hi" crutching - Australian Wool Board.shearing animal health crutching, australian wool board, shearing, animal health, crutching

Shearing time at Cooninbil Station, NSW, 2006. The Ferrier Wool Press sits among penned sheep in an old woolshed. Invented and made in Geelong, the Ferrier wool press could be found in woolsheds all over Australia and around the world.A Green large wool press reaches towards the ceiling in the centre of the image. Rays of bright orange sunlight extend around the green wool press. Surrounding the wool press are numerous sheep. The sheep are penned within a large multileveled wooden woolshed.shearing, ferrier wool press, cooninbil station

Note from collector: Godfrey Hirst Diamond blankets from the mid-1950s are always delight to find. Some of these were found in the Geelong area but one came back with me from an op shop road trip around Tasmania, another from the St Pauls op shop in Romsey. I love this pattern and find the lemon and grey colourway particularly special. 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." Double-sized mint and cream diamond blanketAn All Wool Blanket" /By Godfrey Hirst of Geelong/100% Virgin Woolwool, blanket, blanket fever, godfrey hirst, diamond blanket

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. Thin sheet of orange plastic with letters and numbers moulded to produce a consistent pattern for the surface below through the application of ink. This wool classing stencil once belonged to Denis Hucker. The top number is Denis’ Wool Classing Stencil Number. On the next line is the emblem of the Australian Wool Exchange, followed by an image of Australia, and finally the letters AW. The final line reads 50 years, indicating Denis’ experience in the profession of wool classing. This stencil is reserved for wool classers who have held their stencil and been actively classing wool in Australia for more than 50 years. Wool classers sort, classify, and grade wool into various lines so that it can be sold at best market price. They also manage and supervise wool-handling teams. The stencil is used in the final step of preparing a bale of wool for sale. It is branded across the front of a wool bale to indicate the quality of the wool, with the classers number used as a seal of approval. Accompanying the stencil are two sheets of white A4 paper with printing in gold and black ink. The first sheet was presented by the Australian Council of Wool Exporters & Processors to Denis Hucker for achieving 50 years of wool classing. Surrounded by a thin gold boarder, the page is made up of black text with gold headings. In the top right corner, an image of a sheep with an outline of Australia is found. The second piece of paper was presented by the Australian Wool Exchange to Denis Hucker for achieving 50 years of wool classing. Two thirds of the page is made up of a gold stencil which reads “50 years”. Accompanying the stencil is black text. Moulded letters, numbers, emblem, and imagery. “950326 / (emblem AWEX) (Image Australia) AW / 50 Years” A4 Paper. Printed. See Multimedia A4 Paper. Printed See Multimedia wool classing, stencil, 90 years wool classing between father & son

This stencil was used as a ship identifier stamp for the transportation of wool bales. Plassy was a troopship in the Boer and then the Indian Garrison rotation run. During WWI the Plassy was converted into a Grand Fleet hospital ship serving in European waters. All wool bales stamped with PLASSY would be transported on the Plassy ship.Wool bale export stencil - PLASSYPLASSYwool transportation, wool export, wool sales

This stencil was used as a property name for the transportation of wool bales.Wool bale export stencil - R CARNR CARNwool sales, wool transport, wool export

This stencil was used as a symbol stamp for the transportation of wool bales.Heart shaped wool bale export stencilwool - transportation, wool sales

This stencil was used as a symbol stamp for the transportation of wool bales.Diamond shaped wool bale export stencilwool - transportation, wool sales

Woollen crochet yarn produced by F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd, Sydney.'Twin-Prufe' crochet wool, produced by F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd, Sydney.Twin-Prufe / MOTH / PROOF / SHRINK / PROOF / CROCHET / WOOL / AN F.W. HUGHES Product ALL WOOL / GUARANTEED PERMANENTLY / MOTHPROOF / GUARANTEED SHRINKPROOF / IF WASHED AS A WOOLLEN / 2354 / F.W. HUGHES PTY. LTD. / SYDNEY - AUSTRALIAhandicrafts, textile mills, f.w. hughes pty ltd

This stencil was used as a ship identifier stamp for the transportation of wool bales. Kathlamba was a steel screw steamship owned by Ellerman Bucknall Steam Ship Company Limited and launched in 1913. It was built by W Gray & Co at Hartlepool, Britain. All wool bales stamped with KATHLAMBA would be transported on the Kathlamba ship.Wool bale exportation stencil - KATHLAMBAKATHLAMBAwool transportation, wool export

This stencil was used to stamp wool bales before they were transported to another location. INTERCO is the shortened version of intercompany, a term used to describe activities that are conducted between two or more affiliates or business units of the same parent company. Wool bales marked INTERCO would have been bought by two or businesses. Wool bale export stencil - INTERCOINTERCOwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to cover up other stencils on wool bales.Rectangular shaped wool bale export stencilwool - transportation, wool sales

This stencil was used as a location stamp for the transportation of wool bales. Le Verdon-sur-Mer is a port city located in south-western France. Wool bales marked LE VERDON would have been transported to Le Verdon-sur-Mer by sea.Wool bale export stencil - LE VERDONLE VERDON

Wool and nylon short sleeved spencer with V neck, finished with a wool/nylon braid stitched to the garment with a silky overlocked finish. Short sleeves with an overlocked ribbed band 2.6 cms wide at sleeve edge. A 7.5 cms ribbed band at the waistline.On ribbon at right hand side seam: Hanro 0S. 80% Wool/Nylon.costume, female underwear, spencer

Beret knitted during WW2 from darning wool. Darning wool was the only wool not rationed during the 1940's in Britain. Wool was sold only cut into lengths so was often used for fair-isle knitting.Knitted Fairisle beret. Knitted during WW2. Made with assorted colours of darning wool.costume, female headwear

This stencil was used as a location stamp for the transportation of wool bales. B'FORD L'POOL is the abbreviation of Bradford Liverpool. Bradford and Liverpool are two cities located in the United Kingdom. Wool bales marked B'FORD L'POOL would have been transported to either English cities by sea.Wool bale export stencil - B'FORD L'POOLB'FORD L'POOLwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to identify the destination of wool bales. The PORT stencil would be used as a prefix to the destination name.Wool bale export stencil - PORTPORTwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to stamp wool bales before they were transported to another location. The meaning of EXLON is unknown. Wool bale export stencil - EXLONEXLONwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to stamp wool bales before they were transported to another location. The meaning of PTYSON is unknown. Wool bale export stencil - PTYSONPTYSONwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to stamp wool bales before they were transported to another location. The meaning of DILTEX is unknown. Wool bale export stencil - DILTEXDILTEXwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

This stencil was used to stamp wool bales before they were transported to another location. The meaning of SENWA is unknown. Wool bale export stencil - SENWASENWAwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

Photo depicts a final year woolclassing class from the Gordon Institute in Geelong. They have prepared a display re: woolclassing for the visit of the Prince of Wales to Geelong in 1920. They are on the top floor of the Dennys Lascelles woolstore. The donor's father, Mr Cyril Cameron, can be seen in the photo at sixth from the right. Cyril Cameron (known as 'Cam') came from the family property 'Burnside' near Glenthompson in the Western District. He joined Strachan & Co. as an office boy in Aug. 1914 and then joined the 8th Battalion, 1st AIF in January 1915. He returned to Australia in early 1920 and started work at Strachan's again. He did the wool classing course (one year, evening?) at the Gordon in 1920-21. He became Head Wool Valuer at Strachan's in 1938 and retired in 1970. His office at Strachan's was on the top floor, directly overlooking what is now the entrance to the National Wool Museum (formerly Dennys Lascelles woolstore). He died in 1983. Interestingly, within the photo, can be seen a poster on the wall advertising the RSS or Diggers' Mill. The mill opened in 1922 but had been advertising for investors since the end of the war.Photograph, Gordon Technical College wool classing course, 1920. Wool classing display for the visit of the Prince of Wales at the Dennys Lascelles wool store.GEOFFREY S. WOOD, PHOTO, GEELONG Dennys Lascelles Show Floor 1920 / Visit of Prince of Waleswoolclassing royal visits, gordon technical college - woolclassing department, cameron, mr cyril, dennys lascelles wool store, woolclassing, royal visits

This stencil was used as a ship identifier stamp for the transportation of wool bales. Ascanius was a steam passenger ship that was commanded to be one of the first ships to transport Australian Expeditionary Forces overseas in November 1914. It was returned to its owner after the war in 1920, where it continued to transport general cargo. All wool bales stamped with ASCANIUS would be transported on the Ascanius ship.Wool bale export stencil - ASCANIUSASCANIUSwool transportation, wool export, wool sales

This stencil was used as a location stamp for the transportation of wool bales. The United Socialist Soviet Republic, or U.S.S.R., was made up of 15 soviet republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Wool bales marked USSR would have been transported to the Soviet Union by sea.Wool bale export stencil - USSRUSSRwool - transportation, wool sales, wool class, wool classers

Child's sleeveless wool vest in light brown. Criss cross pattern in dark brown and other patterns in blue, red and green. V neck.Tailored for perfect fit Sutex Pure Wool 36costume, children's