History
1959
Britain’s role as the main buyer of Australian wool was about to end, after a century and a half of dominance. In 1958-59, Japan was about to pass Britain, and three years later it bought twice as much Australian wool as Britain did.
1963
The Australian Wool Board replaced the Australian Wool Bureau. In July the Australian Wool Testing Authority became a division of this new organization. An international identity for wool, which would hold consumer confidence and represent quality standards sought via a worldwide competition as part of the promotional plans of the IWS.
1964
The Woolmark logo created by Italian graphic artist, Francesco Saroglia in Milan, was launched in Britain, the US, Japan, Germany, Holland and Belgium.
1966
Australia, changing its currency from pound to dollar, issued its first set of decimal notes. They proclaimed the importance of wool in the nation’s history by including the portrait of the early sheep-breeder John Macarthur on the two-dollar note.
1970
Australia had a record 180 million sheep.
1970
Reserve Price Scheme started in November, continuing for 20 years and 3 months.
1972/73
Wool exports pass the $1 billion dollar mark for the first time since the Korean War boom.
1973
Australian Wool Corporation established as a single marketing-oriented body to facilitate research, promotion and marketing operations.
1980
The processing of Australian wool was experiencing powerful changes in geography, Eastern Europe became important as a processor of wool, but Europe as a whole was challenged by East Asia where China, its economy slowly reviving, began to emerge in the 1980s as a major market for Australian wool.
1980’s
Zegna Baruffa Lane Borgosesia (est. 1850) created a product that was to become an emblem of high quality production. This was Cashwool®, a very fine (19/19.5 micron) classic yarn that still today shows its absolutely unique characteristics: as soft as cashmere and as shiny as silk, as durable as wool. This product allowed the spinners Zegna Baruffa to achieve full worldwide expansion - also increasing the demand for fine Australian wool.
1984
Olympic Games team uniforms were designed by Prue Acton. Wattle yellow wool, emblazoned with koalas, emus and wombats. They carried wattle yellow wool coats, after the style of Driza-bones, and brandished Akubra hats. Australia was declared by judges as the ‘best dressed team’.
1988
Some of the world’s best designers honor the Australian wool industry by creating outfits made from Australian Merino wool at the Australian Bicentennial Wool Collection held at the Sydney Opera House on January 31. International designers selected were Claude Montana, Sonia Rykiel, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Kenzo Takada, Gianni Versace, Tai and Rosita Missoni, Jean Muir, and Bruce Oldfield alongside Australia’s own Jill Fitzsimon, George Gross, Adele Palmer, Covers, Wendy Heather and Stuart Membery.
1990
A review of the 1980's showed favourable seasons and high demand, and Australia’s wool production increasing to over 1000 million kilograms.
1990
Australian wool production hits an all time high of 1,029 mkg greasy