Our History & Heritage

From Scarves to Shade Innovation

GALE Pacific’s story began in 1951, when Barbara and Harry Gale started weaving scarves and babywear in their Melbourne home. What began as a small family business quickly evolved. By the early 1970s, the Gale family pioneered the world’s first knitted shadecloth, reshaping how people protect crops, homes, and communities from Australia’s harsh sun.

Growing Into a Household Name

Through the 1980s and 1990s, GALE expanded shade from nurseries to backyards and beyond. New colours, higher UV protection, and portable shade structures made GALE products a fixture of Australian outdoor living. Partnerships with leading retailers like Bunnings helped us grow, while innovations like Commercial NinetyFive® set global standards for architectural fabrics.

In 1998, GALE united its retail products under the Coolaroo brand and expanded into international markets with GALE USA and GALE Middle East.

Building a Global Enterprise

In 2000, GALE Pacific listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX: GAP), expanded through acquisitions in the U.S. and Australia, and established the world’s largest knitted shadecloth facility in Ningbo, China, enabling global delivery of Coolaroo products and commercial fabrics.

Diversification and Sustainable Innovation

Today, GALE Pacific is a global leader in advanced polymer textiles, serving customers across Australia, North America, the Middle East, and beyond. Our Coolaroo products bring comfort and style to homes and gardens, while GALE Commercial fabrics are trusted by architects, engineers, and growers to protect what matters most. As climate challenges intensify, we continue to innovate with sustainable technologies, building on the spirit of practical innovation that began more than 70 years ago.