A young Reginald Murray ‘RM’ Williams was camping out in the Flinders Ranges when the idea for a new riding boot struck him. The stockmen he met on his travels had constant troubles with their footwear – the seams would cause blisters in the relentless heat, and nothing on the market would hold up against long days in the saddle. Never a man to embellish, RM believed he could fix all their problems with a single piece of leather. 

Using the finest hides available, he cut a one-piece upper and carefully formed it into the original R.M.Williams boot, affixing it with just one reinforced seam at the heel, away from the pressure points of a stirrup. Fiercely durable and unbelievably comfortable, the boot soon became the stuff of local legend, and a true Australian legacy began.  All these years later, we’re yet to find a better way to do things. Why fix what isn’t broken? Our method isn’t the easiest way, nor the quickest, but we’re safe in the knowledge that our boots are worthy of the adventures that you will take them on. They’re durable, timeless, and ultimately hold up to our founder’s initial goal – to create a boot that would last. 

Bolstered by a growing team of talented craftspeople, RM set up his first workshop in Adelaide and our story of local manufacturing began in earnest. Our founder’s belief in keeping operations local, and in the preservation of traditional artisanal skills, set a new standard for Australian production – one that we still uphold today. Each pair of R.M.Williams boots is the product of over 80 handcrafted processes, moving from station to station at our Adelaide workshop on their way to you. Premium leathers are cut in the clicking room, before travelling to the blocking machine to take on their iconic shape. Each is formed with a Goodyear welted construction, a time-consuming and intricate process that provides the boot with extra protection from the elements, and ensures that it can be resoled again and again. The boot is finished with a sole and a set of branded tugs, allowing you to pull the boots on easily, spreading pressure evenly across the leather upper. Only the finest materials are up to the job, and each boot is carefully scrutinised to ensure it meets our legendary standards of quality and endurance. But don’t just take our word for it – follow in the lead of our long-standing customers, many of whom have been walking around in the same pair of pairs for over 60 years.

A boot crafted by 88 pairs of hands