Australian Wool Board

The Australian Wool Board was an Australian Government statutory board that existed in its first phase between May 1936 and January 1945; in its second phase between June 1945 and June 1953; and in its third and final phase, between May 1963 and December 1972.^[1][2][3] The first Wool Board, in 1936, together with the Wool Boards of New Zealand and South Africa decided to form an organisation to promote wool, to meet the growing challenge from synthetic fibres, which led to the formation in 1937 of the International Wool Secretariat. There have been other reorganisations of the management of the wool sector in Australia since.

The functions of each of the three Boards varied, with third reincarnation having the widest powers that included the promotion of the use of wool and wool products in Australia and other countries; the power to inquire into, and from time to time report upon the methods of marketing wool and any other matters connected with the marketing of wool; and such other functions as were conferred on the Board by the Australian Government or as approved by the Minister for Primary Industries.^[4]

The activities of the Board were funded by a levy on woolgrowers first instituted to finance wool promotion activities in 1936 and later supplemented by funding from the Australian Government.^[5]