Tasmania’s Golden Bale

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 22

Tasmania’s Golden Bale

Although the markings on this bale of wool might suggest that it was produced in New Zealand, in fact the wool was grown in Tasmania. Dunedin is the name of Mr SL W. T. Scott’s station, near t Leonards. The photograph was sent to “The Press” from a German news agency with the following article: “A victory celebration was recently held in the German Wool Secretariat in Dusseldorf. For the first time, the Federal Republic of Germany succeeded in purchasing the ‘Golden Bale.* Until now,

it was never able to win this competition for the most expensive and finest wool in the world. The auction is held annually in Melbourpe, Australia, and the bale usually goes to japan, Italy or other interested parties. The leading charaeteristlcs of thjs 110 kilo bale is Its priee—--5210 deutehemarks (1302.50 dollars). Two pounds of this valuable raw material thus cost 51 deutehemarks (12.75 dollars). This is nearly triple the normal price for raw wool. The later wearers of these high-quality wool suits will probably never know

that the most precious wool of 1968 was used in making their suits.”

According to the New Zealand Wool Board the 2431 b bale sold for 3A1255, or 520 c per lb, the highest price this season anywhere in the world.

It was flown to Germany where it was displayed in Dusseldorf and Frankfurt before going to Bremen for processing. Its final destination is the Otten mills at Monchengladbach where it will be woven into about 50 superfine suit lengths.