Person

Currie, John Lang (1818 - 1898)

Born
17 November 1818
Yarrow, Selkirkshire, Scotland
Died
11 March 1898
St Kilda, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Pastoralist

Summary

John Currie is known as the father of the merino wool industry in Victoria and Australia as a whole. Through trial and error, hard work and perseverance, Currie established the Larra luster merino wool which was unequalled by any other wool types produced in Victoria. It was longer, finer and glossier then other wools and its density on the sheep was unmatched. The Larra luster merino even received the tag of 'perfect' at a London wool auction. His success led other farmers throughout Australia to start afresh, so Currie's sheep were in high demand. His sheep were even exported to South Africa and the United States of America. Between 1846 and 1879, Currie's sheep stocks rose from 6,161 to 34,277.

Details

Chronology

1841
Life event - Migrated to Australia (Port Phillip)
1844
Career position - Bought 1500 sheep and 32,000-acre (12,950 ha) Larra run near Camperdown in Victoria
1844
Career position - Bought the 32,000-acre (12,950 ha) Larra run near Camperdown and 1500 sheep
1860s
Career position - Larra lustre merino established
1863
Career position - Elected to the Camperdown Shire Council
1878
Life event - Donated £500 to Ormond College, University of Melbourne
1879
Career position - Director of the Australian Frozen Export Co.
1881
Career position - Bought Telemon station in New South Wales

Archival resources

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

  • John Lang Currie - Records, 1856 - 1898; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

Resources

McCarthy, G.J.

EOAS ID: biogs/P001557b.htm

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