Karoa Fibres

24/10/2025

Hello All,
After 50 years of Coloured Sheep, Sue French and son, Chris of "Karoa Fibres" at Balldale NSW, have made the difficult decision to sell the remaining 27 coloured ewes.

The ewes are a Merino/Bond and micron around 22. Over the years, their ancestors have gifted us with much wool to have processed into yarn for the "karoa Fibres" business that John and Sue established with invaluable support from Shirley Unthank. The Sheep are currently in full wool and give future custodians the opportunity to harvest their fibre.

The ewes are Red and Yellow Tag (3 & 4 years old) and were bred out of "Karoa" Ewes with a Helen Wright (Kan-B Colours) ram "Nigel". They present in excellent condition as we did not join them this year and are ready to move forward with a breeding programme.

A Selection of 13 coloured rams are also available and is an ideal start to a flock or add to an existing one.

For any enquiries, please contact Shirley Unthank.
Thanks
Chris French

28/07/2025

Hi all, copy of official EP Robinson Press Release.

28/07/2025

Hopefully, my cut and paste works. Jim Robinson is being interviewed on country hour about the scouring. It is definitely a positive move for the industry.

Wool scours have been operating in Victoria since the 1860's but the last one is about to close

28/07/2025

Some of you may of heard that EP Robinson is closing and expected to finalise all current work orders by end of August. Then the scouring will be done in Adelaide. The new company is Australian Wool Processors and website is www.austwool.com.au.

Although, Karoa Fibres is no longer trading, we are still very interested in the sheep and wool industry and wish for accurate and timely information to be distributed. As such l have copied what l posted on the Black & Coloured Sheep Breeders Association of Australia (N.S.W.) Inc. Face book page this morning below. Australian Fibre Collective will endeavour to update with accurate information when it is available.

Australian Fibre Collective (Trish from cashmere connections) has been able to talk to Jim Robinson again this morning. We have Jim's assurance that there will still be coloured wool runs (hopefully every year if volume sufficient). Please wait for more information to come from reliable sources. This is actually a positive step for the processing industry as we will now have a company that can survive and focused on keeping scouring in Australia. I believe that a press release will be issued shortly and the Australian Fibre Collective will put it on their website as soon as practical.