Shepherd's Cross is The Gaywool Dye Headquarters for North America
Gaywool Dyes are: Easy, Colorfast, Safe, Economical, Dependable, Reproducible, Quick & Offer a Broad Color Spectrum
Gaywool Sales Retail & Wholesale
Gaywool Dyes are: Easy, Colorfast, Safe, Economical, Dependable, Reproducible, Quick & Offer a Broad Color Spectrum
- Gaywool Dyes have been available worldwide for decades.
- Shepherd's Cross uses this product in our onsite wool mill as well as nationally & internationally when we start wool mills in impoverished communities.
- Perfect for home use on a smaller scale, or on a large, industrialized scale
- Four Product lines - 2 for ease of use and individuals that are new to dying - Original & Bush Blend; and 2 for experienced dyers - Acid & Lanset Dyes
Gaywool Sales Retail & Wholesale
- Online or at the farm
- Etsy shop available here.
The Gaywool Dye Story
In 1807 John Youl, was sent as a layman preacher to Tahiti in the Pacific islands to work as a missionary. During this time many
of his companions at the missionary had come to an unfortunate end and found themselves in hot water with the native population
. Luckily for him, John Youl was not a very well-built man. He was tall & skinny. He had been observed by the natives shaving every.
morning with his trusty razor. The natives Tahitians gave him a chance of survival if he could shave the chiefs beard and also the
other men in the village without spilling any blood. This he managed to achieve and sometime later, he made his way to the new
colony of New South Wales (Australia).
After settling in Sydney, NSW John Youl became very good friends with Dr Thomas Arndell. Dr Arndell was appointed as the
assistant surgeon to the new settlement of NSW. He was one of seven assistant surgeons to Dr White on the first fleet to
Australia with Governor Phillip. He was later appointed as surgeon at Paramatta. Because of this friendship, the name Arndell,
was incorporated into John Youls family name. In 1810, John Youl married Jane Loder and they named their first son James.
Arndell Youl.
In 1815 John Youl was ordained as an Anglican priest. In 1818 he was commissioned by Earl Bathurst to become the first
chaplain at Port Darymple, Northern Van Diemens Land (Tasmania). Reverend Youl & his family arrived in Van Diemens Land in
1818 to start work in the new Parish.
James Arndell Youl became a successful grazier but is best remembered for introducing trout & salmon to Australasian waters.
Early attempts in 1841 & 1852 of transporting ova from England to Australia had failed and also shipments in 1860 & 1862 but
finally in 1864, with the help of many people, thousands of ova were packed in moss and stored in the ships ice-vault, and the
living ova arrived safely in Tasmania.
Foreword to the late 1960’s
The family connection to Dr Arndell continued and in 1967 Gillian Arndel Youl (married name Thomas), a farmer and enthusiastic.
hand spinner of wool started a business specializing in breeding coloured sheep for hand spinners & weavers. To start her flock
she initially purchased sheep from other farmers in the district. She started her breeding program with 10 throwback corriedale
ewes. She then purchased a Border Leicester Ram in order to obtain a long fleece. Over a period of time, she built her flock of
sheep & her business and also started her own shop. Her customers were far and wide, and the wool was sent to many parts of
Australia and also to the United States, Canada & Holland. Gill also became the first distributor of Ashford Spinning wheels in
Tasmania.
With her family involved in the business her son Chris, suggested that there should be even more colour in the business and with
the assistance of an Industrial Chemist, Barry Harding from Coats Patons Launceston developed some easy to use, quality dyes.
For the home dyer. In 1974 the dyes were first packed and distributed in an old shearing shed on the family farm Gayfield,
Longford Tasmania. Years later the dyes were now being sent & distributed to many parts of the world including, the USA,
Canada, United Kingdom & Japan.
The name of the business came from the initials of Gillian Arndell Youl. (GAY.) Her husband was Richard Field Thomas and the
business was originally called Gayfield Wool and then later changed to Gaywool.
Gaywool Dyes continues to be in the family with the name of Arndell given to some family members. Gill is now in her 80’s and
her enthusiasm and energy for life is admired by her many family & friends.
