What is R.M. Williams?
R.M. Williams is an Australian bootmaker and clothing company founded by Reginald Murray Williams in the 1930s. It is famous for its handmade leather Craftsman boots and outback-inspired clothing.
Reginald Murray Williams grew up in South Australia and worked in the outback as a camel driver, well digger and stockman. In the early 1930s, he began making riding boots with the help of a saddler named Dollar Mick.
His first workshop was in his father's shed in Adelaide. The business grew as station workers and city people alike bought his tough, comfortable boots and saddlery.
The Craftsman boot
The company's best-known product is the Craftsman boot, a pull-on elastic-sided boot made from a single piece of leather. Each pair is still handmade at the company's workshop in Salisbury, Adelaide.
Reginald Murray Williams also helped found the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach. He died in 2003, and the company has since been owned by several investors.
In 2020, the company was bought by Tattarang, the private investment group of Andrew and Nicola Forrest, which returned it to Australian ownership. Its boots are worn by farmers, celebrities and politicians, and are seen as a symbol of Australian style.
Did You Know?
R.M. Williams boots can be resoled and repaired, extending their life for many years.