1788 - 1838

• The first fat-tailed sheep into Australia arrive in 1788 with the First Fleet.
• The first 13 Spanish Merinos arrive in 1797.
• Some of these sheep are sold to John Macarthur and Samuel Marsden, who begin selective breeding by crossing their Merinos with other breeds in the colony.
• On his arrival in 1800, Governor King sees the potential and benefit to the colony in producing wool. His vision leads to the establishment of a textile industry with the setting up of the first wool mill at Parramatta.
• The first auction of Australian wool is held at Garraway's Coffee House in London in 1821 and brought $2.27 per kg.
• To gain higher prices on the London market, sheep are washed before shearing, clean wool is packed in bales for shipment.
• Research commences to investigate and control problems with sheep diseases.
• Saxon and Vermont Merinos are imported , together with English breeds such as Lincoln, English Leicester and Border Leicester. From these breeds, sheep are evolved to suit the Australian climate.
• Within 50 years of settlement sheep have moved into every colony, the annual wool clip is over two million kg., and wool has become Australia's main export.

 Source: The Woolmark Company