Cleckheaton began its Australian history in 1948, when an Australian knitwear manufacturer, Mr Fred James, travelled to Yorkshire, England to purchase fine pure wool worsted yarn, which had been in continual shortage in Australia. He bought the yarn and much more: an entire worsted spinning mill, Cleckheaton (Yorkshire) Ltd.

A year later, the plant, together with managers and mill hands was transported 20,000 kilometres to Shepparton in Victoria. Success followed.
The company grew further through acquisitions and in 1980 merged with Wangaratta Woollen Mills.

Cleckheaton's concentration on natural fibres and blends with an Australian pedigree has established a loyal following throughout Australia, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong and Singapore. For the past two decades Cleckheaton has developed a status and position of a premium quality brand that exports Australian Yarns and designs all over the globe.