On a hill overlooking the Lachlan River, the original galvanised iron shed's 92-year-old roof stands out with rust, as do heavy timber slabs in a wall, and leaded corrugated iron used during a World War II addition to the big structure, when building materials were scarce.

Prices for the fine fibre are rising and designers enthralled by its silky smooth texture have emblazoned a T-shirt with "I Wool If You Wool" for Wool Week Australia. In the mid-winter retailing season the industry is focussing on wool's natural, renewable qualities over synthetics. Retailers' return to wool has cheered Mr Dowling, who says producers should never lose their faith in the durable fibre either.

He counts himself fortunate his son Luke and daughter Kelly share his passion and work alongside him at a time of revival. While farmers have been breeding more lambs for meat consumption, instead of for fine merino wool, the Dowlings remain committed to growing wool.

"The amount of superfine-wool ewes joined to cross-bred rams is going to change the whole composition of the wool clip," Mr Dowling said. Consequently, with less fine wool coming on to the market, prices are rising. "Perhaps we are starting to see that take effect. [Prices for] the good fleece wools are still not brilliant, but the carding [shorter] wool and anything going into the woollen trade is very good."

The Australian Eastern Market indicator has been edging up with weekly averages between $12 and $15 a kilogram for clean wool, the highest prices for three years. The Dowlings sold cardings last week for $10.99. If converted to a clean wool price it would be about $15 for 17 micron wool.

Southern Wool Traders' John Burton, who buys wool throughout the Capital Region says the broader merino and crossbred wool are doing well because of a shortage in that micron, but he is reluctant to predict where the price is heading. Lisa Porter joined SWT two years ago and has never seen prices so buoyant. Mr Burton said while China was still the most influential buyer, India was making its presence felt as well.

The Dowlings run a self-replacing flock which they shear in late spring. They have been separating younger sheep this week to lighten the grazing pressure on their paddocks, and were happy to receive 15 millimetres of rain. Mr Dowling only has to cast back to the early days of his grandfather, who built the shed before building a home, to maintain his enthusiasm.

"They whinge about the price of wool but it is still as profitable as fat lambs and even better than beef most of the time," he said. He grew up at a time of wool prosperity, attending the Bevendale bush school with 26 other pupils. The school closed about 30 years ago.

In the 1950s a wool producer running 1000 sheep could afford a station hand, but these days a flock of between 5000 and 8000 was needed to support a family, Mr Dowling said. "The goal posts are always moving by about two per cent a year. You have to up your productivity two per cent to stay even."

The family has four shearing sheds, and the four-stand one built by Loral Dowling which can hold 1000 head on the main floor and 400 underneath. It may not have the latest facilities, but its stringy bark rafters and thick yellow box and red box gum posts best reflect wool's grand past.