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Thomas Cook began making boots out of an inner suburb of Melbourne in 1924. He arrived from Fremantle, Western Australia as an orphaned 16 year old with big dreams of making a name for himself as a flyweight boxer. Although he never achieved pugilistic fame, a lifetime of boot making established a tradition of innovation and craftsmanship, and the Thomas Cook Boot and Clothing Company was born.

Synonymous with the Australian Outback, Thomas Cook has become an iconic representation of true Australian life. A symbol of endurance, mateship and nature, it has created its identity through generations of tradition ingrained deep within the spirit of the bush.

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In 1873 Herbert Thomas Slatter sailed from England with his wife and three children. Arriving in Melbourne in 1874, he established Slatters. Now based in Adelaide, Slatters remains proudly Australian.

The company archives include H T Slatter’s original shipping ticket and hand-written record books, which date to the late 1800’s. These record business transactions, including those with C and J Clarks in the U.K, whom we now know as Clarks Shoes.

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In 1870 Robert McKinlay arrived with his family in Dunedin, New Zealand. An immigrant from Scotland, Robert was a perfectionist and true craftsman. He established his own footwear manufacturing company in 1879 supplying boots and shoes to a growing Dunedin population.

In the late 1800's Dunedin boomed as the discovery of gold made the city the centre of New Zealand commerce. McKinlays prospered along with the city, supplying miners, farmers and city dwellers alike with quality footwear.

More than 100 years later, McKinlays still prospers.

The Company has retained all its production in DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND. Its marketing covers New Zealand and Australia and is distributed through selected retailers and Customer Direct for customers with no stockists in their area.

Now being run by the fifth generation of McKinlays - brothers Graeme & David McKinlay, the company makes its footwear using "veldtschoen" construction, containing stitched through and cement construction. The "veldt" method is noted for its inherent comfort, flexibility and strength.

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