National Wool Museum Collection

The National Wool Museum (NWM) collection is a nationally significant collection, unique in Australia. It demonstrates the development, and importance, of wool and the wool industry in Australia generally and in Geelong specifically. The Collection consists of over 9,000 objects including textiles, archives, objects, artwork, photographs and machinery.

The NWM Collection traces the Australian story of wool, fibre and textiles through First Peoples perspectives, clothing, wool and textile industries, artwork, cultural life and social history with emphasis on how they relate to the history and heritage of Geelong. The Collection encompasses a chronological period from 1797 to today including items of local, national, and international origins.

The National Wool Museum Collection is part of the larger City of Greater Geelong Art and Heritage Collections. The City’s Art and Heritage Collection is a public inheritance of materials managed on behalf of the community. The team at the National Wool Museum are caretakers of the five major collections within the City of Greater Geelong Art and Heritage Collections:

• The National Wool Museum Collection
• The Council Art and Artefact Collection
• Outdoor Collection
• Geelong Naval and Maritime Collection
• Old Geelong Gaol Collection

The National Wool Museum Collection is currently focusing on the following themes for future acquisitions:

• First Peoples History, in particular Wadawurrung People
• Australian Fashion
• Australian Wool and Textile industries, (prioritising sustainable and emerging industries)
• Artistry in Wool
• Australian cultural life / social history relating to wool and textiles, (prioritising minority groups and diverse communities)

The National Wool Museum Collection can be accessed online through Victoria Collections and also at Geelong Heritage Collections.

Donations to our collection

Thank you for your interest in donating to the National Wool Museum Collection.

Does your item sounds like a good match with one of the themes outlined in the National Wool Museum Collections Policy, listed above?

If so, please complete an Offer of Donation Form and return it to [email protected] or mail to National Wool Museum, Collections Officer, 26 Moorabool Street, Geelong, VIC 3226. 

After receiving your Offer of Donation Form

Collections staff will assess your Offer of Donation Form against our current acquisitions criteria.

• You item will be placed on the agenda for consideration by a panel at the next Acquisitions and Deaccessions Meeting, these are held quarterly.
• You will receive a Notice of Outcome shortly after the meeting.
• If your item is accepted, you will complete a Deed of Gift Form.
• It is the responsibility of the donor to transport or send the item to the museum in Geelong.
• The item will be catalogued, digitised and a record will be posted to our online database on Victorian Collections.

The museum can not legally accept or temporarily hold items without the above process being completed. Please do not send or leave items at the museum unless requested to do so. 

For all enquiries please contact:

Emma Crofts
Collections Officer
[email protected]
03 5272 4987

The following is a guide only, please be in touch if you have any questions regarding donations to the National Wool Museum Collection.