Blundstone

John and Eliza Blundstone emigrated from Derbyshire, England, to Hobart in 1855. John Blundstone began importing footwear in 1870 and expanded into manufacturing boots in Hobart's Liverpool Street. By 1892, Sylvanus Blundstone joined the venture, leading to the formation of J. Blundstone & Son.

The Cane family purchased the company in 1901 and oversaw its operations into the early twentieth century. During the Great Depression, the business encountered financial challenges and was sold in 1932 to James and Thomas Cuthbertson, who merged their tannery and manufacturing interests under the Blundstone name.

During World War I, Blundstone supplied boots to Australian troops, working with a group of manufacturers to deliver a monthly total of 100,000 pairs.

In the 1960s, Blundstone introduced the 500 series, a laceless, elastic-sided boot that became a signature product.

In 2000, Blundstone acquired John Bull Footwear, a New Zealand-based company, which expanded its operations and product range.

Blundstone's headquarters and gumboot facility remain in Hobart, Tasmania, with a production capacity of 400,000 pairs of gumboots per year.

Since 2007, Blundstone has outsourced leather boot manufacturing to facilities in Vietnam, India, China, Mexico, and Thailand. The company places on-site inspectors in all factories to oversee compliance with its stated labor and environmental standards.

Blundstone boots use leather sourced from selected tanneries. The company employs proprietary technologies, including XRD in the heel and footbeds, intended to provide cushioning and support.

The 500 series, introduced in the 1960s, is an elastic-sided, ankle-length boot that has sold more than 25 million pairs worldwide.

Blundstone produces injection-molded gumboots at its Tasmanian facility, with an annual output of 400,000 pairs.

The company also manufactures safety footwear equipped with features to guard against impact, penetration, cuts, chemicals, and heat.

Blundstone offers a line of children's boots based on its established designs.

The company has produced a vegan range of boots to meet demand for non-leather footwear.