He shot to fame in pre-Federation Australia in 1892 when he broke the daily and weekly shearing records across the colonies.

Jackie Howe's father, Jack Howe, was also a shearer and a clown with La Rosier's circus, claiming to be the first clown to travel the Australian colonies, and was town-crier in Warwick.

On 10 October 1892, Howe had shorn 321 sheep in seven hours and 40 minutes at Alice Downs station, near Blackall, Queensland.

[citation needed] Jackie Howe is depicted by a bronze statue in Blackall.

[citation needed] In October 2015, Howe's record was reported as still unbeaten after 123 years.