New England Australia - the world wool built 3: development of wool

• John Macarthur (1767 - 1834) is generally regarded as the founder of the Australian wool industry, although others such as Samuel Marsden also played a part.

Macarthur was a difficult man, something of a commercial buccaneer, whose clashes with various Governors culminated in Australia's one and only military coup.

The first auction of Australian wool was held at Garraway's Coffee House in London in 1821. By 1838 sheep had moved into every Australian colony, the annual wool clip was over two million kilos and wool had become Australia's main export.