CAMPBELL Town, Tasmania, is set to have a new bronze icon don its streets, which will mark the foundation of Australia’s fine-wool history.
The Merino Tribute Steering Committee has begun raising funds to erect a two-metre tall bronze statue of legendary female pastoralist Eliza Forlonge.
Vera Taylor, who runs one of Tasmania’s oldest sheep studs Winton Merinos, is one of the key drivers of the project and hopes to get the sculpture up as soon as possible.
“Eliza has made such a big contribution to the Tasmanian wool industry and we really want to honor that,” she said.
Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Mrs Forlonge, recognised fine wool from Saxony attracted the highest prices. She soon went with her family to Leipzig, Germany, to study the intricate methods of sheep rearing and wool preparation in a bid to move to Australia and fulfill her dream.
And after walking hundreds of kilometres in search of stock between 1828 and 1830, Mrs Forlonge hand selected only the best Saxon sheep for shipping to Australia.
The very first Saxon sheep arrived in Tasmania in 1829 and the Forlonge family followed soon after.
She later moved to Victoria after her husband John died in an effort to acquire more land.
In 1835, Mrs Forlonge sold part of the Saxon flock to the Taylor family in 1835, which marked 175 years in 2010.
The bloodlines played a fundamental role in developing Australia’s fine-wool industry.
Mrs Taylor says the influence of Mrs Forlonge is wide-spread and should be remembered.
“It was that intimate knowledge of the Saxon sheep that she was able to share and that has been passed down through generations,” she said.
“She was an extremely courageous woman, who covered 1500 miles on foot hand-selecting sheep. It was a tremendous task.”
She says it is the first time in Tasmania that a female will be recognised in this form.
Artist Peter Corlett has been appointed to erect the statue, but the committee is currently taking donations to fund the project.
