Rabbit Fur Manufacturing in Australia - Akubra

Akubra history:

In 1874 Benjamin Dunkerley arrived in Tasmania from England and decided to start a hat making business in Hobart. His skills as a hatter were backed by his ability to invent machinery, and soon after his arrival he had developed a mechanical method of removing the hair tip from rabbit fur so the under-fur could be used in felt hat making. Previously this task had to be done by hand. Benjamin asked his wife Harriet to join him the following year with their children. The family lived in Hobart where another four children were born to them. They were living at this time at a property called St. Helena which is now part of the Wrest Point Hotel complex.

Benjamin went back to England to patent his invention. It should have made him, if not a fortune, at least a reasonably sound amount of money. But Benjamin Dunkerley came out of the venture badly, losing a considerable amount of money. He was a clever inventor and a good hat manufacturer however didn’t fare well as a businessman.

In the late 1880’s Dunkerley moved his fur cutting and machinery business from Tasmania to Sydney and set up a small hat factory in Crown Street, Surrey Hills. He continued to supply rabbit fur and machinery to hatters throughout Australia.

In the early 1900′s Dunkerley moved the business to Crown Street, Surry Hills, an inner suburb of Sydney, setting up a small hat making factory.

During 1904 Stephen Keir I, who had also migrated from England, joined Dunkerley. Keir had hat making experience from England, and was seen as a valuable acquisition for the business. In 1905 he married Ada Dunkerley, Benjamin’s daughter and soon after was made General Manager. Since that time the hat making firm has been in the hands of succeeding generations of the Keir family. In 1911, the business became Dunkerley Hat Mills Ltd, and had a mere nineteen employees. Benjamin Dunkerley died in 1918 knowing he was leaving the Company in the capable hands of his son in law.

Akubra, an Australian Icon:

The trade name “Akubra” came into use in 1912. The increasing popularity resulted in the move to larger premises in Bourke Street, Waterloo and expanded production, especially of Slouch hats during World War I. The factory received a business boost in World War 1 when it was obliged to supply diggers’ hats. Apart from sales to the Department of Defence the hats were sold through a York Street warehouse run by Mr. A.P. Stewart. He had put an amount of capital into the business and the famous name Akubra was in vogue after that. Soon after all hats were branded Akubra. When Dunkerley died in 1925, ownership of the business transferred to Stephen Keir I. The business continued to flourish and when Stephen Keir retired in 1952 he was succeeded as Managing Director by his eldest son, Herbert. His second son, Stephen Keir II, served as General Manager and became Managing Director in 1972. His son, Stephen Keir III, became Managing Director in 1980. Another son, Graham, joined the firm in 1972, first as sales representative for Northern NSW and later as National Sales Manager. Unfortunately, Graham died prematurely in 1987. Stephen Keir III retired as Managing Director on 31st December 2007, allowing his son and fourth generation of the Keir family, Stephen Keir IV, to assume the mantle of Managing Director. In 2010, after working with the company for more than 56 years, Stephen Keir III O.A.M stepped down as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Stephen Keir IV, who has worked with the Akubra company for more than 20 years, is appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors. And so the family tradition continues:

• Each hat passes through more than 50 sets of hands before the customer receives the final product. Akubra Hats are crafted by experts whose craft has remained virtually unchanged for more than 100 years.

• The Akubra Hat Factory is now based on the mid north coast of New South Wales in the town of Kempsey, having relocated from Sydney in 1974.

• Akubra stockists and distributors are now located in North America, Europe and the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

• Akubra now manufactures more than 100 different styles of fur felt hats in a variety of colours. Akubra also makes a small selection of straw hats.

Akubra hats sun protection ratings:

Akubra Hats regularly and independently tests its fur felt hats for Ultraviolet Protection. Samples are sent to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), a Federal Government Agency. Akubra then receives an Ultraviolet Protection Factor Report and an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) rating.

The UPF rating indicates how effective a fabric is at blocking out solar ultraviolet radiation. This testing is performed according to Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 4399. UPF ratings range from 15 to 50 with higher ratings indicating more effective blocking and therefore better protection for the wearer of a garment made from the fabric. Fabrics that test higher than UPF 50 are rated as UPF 50+.

Akubra hats are currently rated at UPF 50+, and as such are classified as EXCELLENT under the UPF Classification System. This is the highest classification achievable under this system. This confirms the long held belief that Akubra hats provide(s) excellent protection from the sun for those who are outdoors, either at work or at leisure. Akubra recommend all individuals consider the importance of sun protection when purchasing a broad brimmed hat.

Note: There is no less than 11 key steps in the Akubra Hat making process. Videos of the Akubra hat making process can be viewed at the Akubra website. Akubra also manufacture leather belts.

Source: Gravesites of Tasmania: Gravestones and Family Genealogy.