The Story Behind the National Gallery of Australia x Waverley Mills Collection

Arthur Boyd's tapestries are renowned for their remarkable use of colour. Deep burgundies, burnt oranges, honey golds and vibrant blues combine to create works that feel both expressive and deeply human.

Rather than reproducing the artworks directly, Waverley Mills set out to interpret the essence of Boyd's tapestries through contemporary woven textiles. The design process focused on preserving the warmth, movement and emotional energy of the originals while creating pieces that could be enjoyed in everyday life.

Creative Designer Lindzi Mann approached the project by studying the woven structure of the tapestries themselves.

"When interpreting the Boyd tapestries, I was taken by the incredible use of colour. Tapestry weaving is produced by hand, one thread at a time, and it was clear that each thread, each colour had been carefully chosen to bring each tapestry to life. I wanted to capture the essence of that in the collection, through the use of simple primary colours and the textured herringbone weave, that allow the colours and tones to play off each other.”

By translating these layered colour relationships into wool, the collection captures the feeling of Boyd's work calling back to the Tapestries in conversation, rather than imitation.

One of the defining challenges of the collection was achieving colour consistency across multiple textile types.

The range spans throws, scarves and pet blankets, each woven using different yarn counts, weave structures and finishing techniques. Colours behave differently depending on fibre construction, meaning every shade required careful testing before production could begin.

As Waverley Mills CEO Fran Maiale explains:

"One of the greatest challenges in this collection was colour. The original tapestries possess an extraordinary depth and intensity. Our team spent considerable time ensuring those colours remained consistent across different wool qualities, yarn constructions and weave structures. The result is a collection that honours the spirit of Boyd's work while remaining true to the character of Australian wool."

This careful attention to colour development ensured every textile reflected both the vibrancy of Boyd's original palette and the natural beauty of Australian Merino wool.

Once the colours had been perfected, it was time for production to commence at Waverley Mills—Australia's oldest working woollen mill.

Every piece is woven in Tasmania using Australian Merino wool, continuing a manufacturing tradition that has been part of the mill for more than 150 years. From spinning and dyeing through to warping, weaving and hand finishing, the entire process takes place in a single location.

While modern machinery supports production, much of the work remains remarkably hands-on. Each throw and scarf passes through the skilled hands of Waverley Mills’ artisans, whose expertise ensures every finished piece meets the highest standard of quality.

The result is a collection that celebrates Australian manufacturing while showcasing the remarkable versatility of natural wool.

The National Gallery of Australia x Waverley Mills collection brings together two enduring Australian stories.

One is the artistic legacy of Arthur Boyd, whose Life of St Francis tapestries remain among Australia's most significant textile artworks. The other is the story of Australian wool, local manufacturing and the craftspeople who continue to transform natural fibre into textiles designed to last for generations.

Together, they celebrate the value of Australian design, craftsmanship and creativity—bringing museum-quality inspiration into the everyday home through beautifully woven Australian-made textiles.