Akubra
Tattarang · Australia
Akubra is an Australian hat maker whose origins go back to 1876 in Tasmania and which is now based in Kempsey, New South Wales. It is best known for rabbit fur felt bush hats and makes more than 100 hat styles.
| Founded | 1876, Tasmania |
|---|---|
| Founder | Benjamin Dunkerley |
| Headquarters | Kempsey, New South Wales |
| Owner | Tattarang (since 2023) |
| Material | Rabbit fur felt |
| Website | akubra.com.au |
What is Akubra?
Akubra is a hat manufacturer from Australia, known above all for its wide-brimmed bush hats made from rabbit fur felt. The business is headquartered in Kempsey, New South Wales, where it moved from Sydney in 1974. Since November 2023 it has been owned by the private investment company Tattarang.
History
The company traces its origins to 1876, when Benjamin Dunkerley founded the Kensington Hat Mills in Glenorchy, near Hobart in Tasmania. In 1892 Dunkerley invented a machine that mechanised stripping fur from rabbit skins. The company made slouch hats for the Australian army during the First World War, and from the 1950s held the licence to produce Stetson hats in Australia. In 2015 it became the sole maker of Australian Defence Force slouch hats.
Products and positioning
Akubra makes more than 100 styles, including bush and slouch hats, fedoras, homburgs, bowlers, pork pie hats and trilbies. The name is said to derive from an Aboriginal word for a head covering.
Why it matters
Akubra is one of the most recognisable Australian heritage accessories brands, combining local manufacturing with a product that has become a national symbol.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Akubra hats made?
Akubra is based in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia, where it moved in 1974.
Who owns Akubra?
Akubra has been owned by the private investment company Tattarang since November 2023.