Tasmania’s first Centre of Excellence for Shearing and Wool Handling has officially opened at the Campbell Town Showgrounds, establishing a state-of-the-art hub for the state’s $54 million wool industry.
The new facility will serve as a central location for training, education and competitions for the Tasmanian sheep and wool sector.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, said Tasmania now has a “one-stop shop to showcase our world-class sheep and wool sector”.
“The Centre of Excellence for Shearing and Wool Handling will be the epicentre of education, training, events and competition for our shearers and the community.”
Kip Gray, chair of the project subcommittee, explained the journey to establish the centre began in 2022.
“We were in the old Burbury Pavilion which is the old shed behind us and we were walking through one day and my wife said to me, do you think we could improve the shearing facilities?” Gray said.
After initially missing out on a grant in 2023-24, the project eventually secured $1.5 million in funding to build the facility.
The state government has also committed an additional $200,000 for sheep and wool industry training, which will deliver 40 Certificate 2 qualifications over the next two years.
Gray said the centre has potential to host national competitions that could attract shearers from around Australia and internationally.
“They’ll be shearing up to something like 1,500-2,000 sheep here in this shed and a huge boost for the tourism for the state,” he said.
The centre hopes to address workforce challenges by encouraging young people to enter the industry.
“We need to get these young people into our fields and this is a great way to encourage them. We’re giving them the best facilities that they could possibly get,” Gray said.
