Importance of shearing
Sheep farming was a major industry in the Kelly country.
Sheep show at Jerilderie (T&C20/8/1870)
Australia's wool industry was well developed and the expression about the country 'riding on the sheep's back' was in use. More correctly it rode on the back of thousands of shearers and other bush workers.
The size of the wool clip (Argus19/1/81)
Shearing in progress (Alexandra30/10/1868)
.