R.M.Williams has announced the official opening of a second manufacturing workshop at its site in Salisbury, Adelaide’s northern suburbs, marking what the company described as a major milestone in its commitment to strengthening Australian-made craftsmanship.
According to R.M.Williams, the new 20,000-square-metre facility, officially opened by Dr Andrew Forrest AO, represents a 90 per cent increase in production capacity since the company was acquired by Tattarang five years ago.
The expansion is part of R.M.Williams’ broader investment in local jobs, skills, and manufacturing capability, as revealed in a news release.
The company said the new workshop, named Bushman’s Base following a staff vote, is located beside its long-standing Frost Road bootmaking site, which has been home to R.M.Williams since 1972.
The facility now houses the company’s craft and clothing workshops and its global boot repair service, where up to 30,000 pairs of boots are repaired annually by South Australian craftspeople.
R.M.Williams confirmed the workshop also includes a new leather wallet production line, bringing this craft in-house for the first time. Skilled artisans have been trained in new techniques, a move the company said underscores its commitment to local manufacturing and traditional craftsmanship.
In a statement, R.M.Williams owner and Tattarang co-chair Dr Andrew Forrest AO said the investment delivers on the company’s promise to grow Australian manufacturing.
“We bought this iconic business five years ago with a promise to invest in Australia and to bring more manufacturing back onshore,” Dr Forrest said.
“Fast forward five years and I’m proud to say we are delivering on that promise. This new facility strengthens our commitment to keeping Australian manufacturing alive and thriving.”
Tattarang co-chair and R.M.Williams owner Nicola Forrest AO said the company’s roots in South Australia remain central to its operations.
“The home of RMs has always been, and always will be, South Australia,” she said. “There is immense pride in knowing the world’s best boots are still made right here in Salisbury — by Australians, for the world.”
R.M.Williams said the final stage of the expansion will see its distribution centre relocated to the same site, consolidating its manufacturing and logistics operations under one roof.
Once complete, the company’s combined Adelaide footprint will total 29,500 square metres – nearly twice the size of Adelaide Oval.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the development, describing it as a strong endorsement of the state’s manufacturing sector.
“R.M.Williams’ decision to grow its operations here reflects our state’s strength as a hub for high-quality, sustainable manufacturing,” he said.
“This expansion is a powerful vote of confidence in our people, in their skills, their creativity and their ability to deliver world-class products to customers around the globe,” he concluded.
