Folllowing a report of the Textile Panel of the Ministry of Post-war Construction, and in view of the outstanding importance of wool to Australia as a whole, the Government decided in 1945 to initiate as intensive program of research and publicity for the wool industry.  The Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) was entrusted with the scientific work involved, the funds being obtained from the Wool Use Promotion Act 1945.  

In 1945, in consultation with various State departments, universities and other authorities, attention was given to developing a program of work on the production side.  It was decied that the work be largely carried out by CSIR's existing divisions and field stations in conjunction with the universities and the State Departments of Agriculture.

On the wool textile side, after consultation with representatives from three wool textiles authorities from abroad, CSIR decided to establish a Division of Textile Research and the position of Chief was advertised.  The divisional headquarters was to be located in Geelong.  However, as difficulties were encountered in establishing the Division, officers from other divisions were diverted to undertake wool textile research in existing laboratories.

In 1950 there was a major re-organisation of the laboratories engaged in wool textile research which resulted in the establishment of the Wool Research Textile Laboratories.  Due to the continuing problems in appointing a suitable leader to take charge of the whole textile program, a Wool Textile Research Committee was established to be responsible for the co-ordination and general oversight of the research program. The Committee comprised the Officers-in-Charge of the three Wool Research Textile Laboratories.  

The laboratory at Belmont was one of the laboratories. The Officer-in-Charge was M Lispon and the laboratory, known as the Developmental Processing Unit, was responsible for technological investigations and was especially concerned with problems of more immediate concern to the textile industry.  The work was done in close association with the Textile College of the Gordon Institute of Technology.

The other two laboratories were the Melbourne laboratory at Parkville headed by F G Lennox (CA 4539, Division of Molecular Engineering from 1990) and the Sydney laboratory at Ryde headed by V D Burgmann (CA 4368, Division of Textile Physics).  The Parkville laboratory was concerned with chemical and biochemical problems and the Ryde laboratory carried out research on the physics of wool and the physical and engineering aspects of wool processing.

In December 1958 the Laboratories were renamed the Wool Research Laboratories and divisional status was conferred on each of the Units.  The responsiblity for overall policy and the co-ordination of wool textile research remained with the Committee.

As a result of a major restructuring of Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in 1988, the Division of Textile Industry was disbanded and merged with the Division of Textile Physics and part of the Division of Protein Chemistry (Wool & fibrous proteins, and Hides, skins and leather sections) to form the Division of Wool Techology with its headquarters based in Belmont.

The aim of CSIRO's Division of Wool Technology is to increase the world wide demand for Australian wool, wool products and leathers.

To attain this aim the Division's research has these objectives:

. developing new products and processes;

. improving existing products and processes;

. reducing costs of marketing and processing; and

. improving market-oriented specification of the primary products.

The work includes studying the relationship between the properties of fibres and their performance in textile processing; improving the operations carried out to convert raw wool into a clean fibre ready for mill processing; developing improved techniques and equipment for the manufacture of tops, yarns, fabrics and garments; devising procedures that reduce the  environmental impact of textile processing; and improving the performance of the final product.

On the 30 June 1996 the Division in New South Wales was closed and some staff and functions including the Fibre Specifications Group, the Instrumentation and Computing group were re-located to Geelong.

In 1999 the Division of Wool Technology changed its name to the Division of Textile and Fibre Technology.

Sources:

CSIRO Archives, Canberra

CSIRO Wool Technology Information publication 1992

Commonwealth Government Directory Vol 2 1985, p.35

CSIRO Historical Directory 1926-1976, p.71
Historical agency address
Princes Highway, Belmont, Vic