During the Middle Ages, flocks of what would later be called Saxxon^™ sheep accompanied the Arab expansion across North Africa and ultimately into Spain. Spanish royalty had never seen wool of this quality and great efforts were made to refine the bloodline and retain its purity. By the 16th century, the kings of Spain held exclusive ownership of the best of the flock, and cultivated the line further. Wearing garments made from this wool quickly became a mark of wealth and privilege.

By the 18th century, wool from these rare sheep was a prized commodity–coveted throughout Europe in much the same way as gold. In 1765, the King of Spain presented a flock of his own select sheep to his German cousin, the Elector of Saxony.

History, however, would soon intervene to challenge the very existence of pure Saxxon^™ wool. Napoleon, having conquered Spain in the early 19th century, fed his starving soldiers on the remaining flocks at the palace of Escorial, thus wiping out Spain's precious holdings. After that, pure Saxxon^™ sheep in any reasonable quantity could be found only in Germany.

It is during this period that an enterprising and courageous Scotswoman changed the dwindling fortunes of the Saxxon^™ breed: Elizabeth Furlonge, to improve the health of her asthmatic son, decided to relocate from Scotland to the drier climate of Australia. Resourceful and intelligent, Elizabeth knew that survival in this isolated, faraway land would largely be a matter of her own devising. She thus determined that she and her family would raise sheep, and, more importantly, her best assurance of success that she bring those sheep with her.

In 1830, Elizabeth Furlonge and her sons set sail for Australia to begin their new life. There, she acquired 2,500 acres of Tasmanian farmland near Campbell Town, where her flock thrived. All Saxxon^™ sheep in Australia are descended from Mrs. Furlonge's original flocks.

The significance of Mrs. Furlonge's courageous endeavor - and the extraordinary foresight of the early Australian Saxxon^™ growers - is evidenced by yet another twist of history: Germany, suffering massive inflation after World War I, was impoverished and starving. In response, the government dictated that the remaining sheep in the Saxxon^™ line be interbred with mutton sheep for use as food. Thus the Saxxon^™ flocks of Australia and, by this time, New Zealand, became - and remain - the sole source of pure Saxxon^™ wool.