It's water and fireproof, versatile, warm and tough wearing. Wool not only expanded the British Empire, and created prosperity in the colonies, it also changed the nature of war and warfare. But wool's fortunes didn't last forever. This is the story of the rise and fall of wool.

This conversation was recorded at the National Library of Australia on 31 July 2025.

Speakers

Trish Fitzsimons Documentary film maker, exhibition curator, adjunct professor with Griffith Film School (Griffith University)Co-author of Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War

Madelyn Shaw Exhibition curator and co-author of Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War

Annabelle Quince (host) Host, Rear Vision, ABC Radio National