The Akubra – a traditional Australian outback hat that is oh, so sexy!
Posted on May 13th, 2010 in All About Hats, Library, Store Blog by admin. Subscribe to this author's posts.
Among the many iconic hats on display at Edie Hats, a perennial favourite is the famous Akubra from Australia.
Hugh Jackman as 'Drover' in the movie 'Australia' - wearing an Akubra!
The Akubra Hat is a thoroughly authentic Australian Icon and no other product embodies the spirit of the country so completely. Born in 1874 in Hobart, Tasmania by an English immigrant who combined hat-making skills and an inventive nature to create hats that could withstand Australia’s varied extremities. With many different styles, Akubras are traditionally worn by drovers, farmers and essentially anyone who works outdoors. Like the wearers, these hats are tough and work hard in any environment.
Their versatility and strength comes from the many pelts of rabbit fur in each hat. Rabbits, a foreign species, have had a fiercely destructive impact on native Australian fauna and flora, which is why there are constant efforts to cull their growth. This lends to an easily sourced and widely available fur whose cultivation is actually beneficial to the environment. A typically practical Australian solution to an Australian problem!
Today, the ‘Sydney’ is one of the last traditionally shaped fedoras. The rounded, open crown and soft fur allows the wearer to decide the shape. With a quick karate chop and light pinch of the crown one can tell the hat how to look. A bit of steam will help shape the hat more permanently (we are happy to do it for you!). Its twelve pelts of rabbit fur makes this is one of the most waterproof hats available. Simple and stylish, the charcoal colour and plain black band means it can be worn with almost anything, jeans, smart trousers, floral dress, wool coat. Men, women, Summer, Winter.
Jack White wearing a 'Sydney' purchased at Edie Hats
Likewise, the lighter coloured ‘Snowy River’ with its classic cowboy shape and up-turned brim flatters most heads and is comfortably worn throughout the year. This is a hat that denotes strength of character with an eye for looking good!
Akubra makes hats that last a lifetime. Take them on the journey with you, they become a part of your story.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Hey there, im in the music business here in Nashville. I’m being produced by Steve Cropper. I would like to get some information on Hugh Jackman’s hat worn in the movie Austalia. please get back to me. Thank you!
August 29th, 2010 at 6:01 am
Hello. I’ve had written correspondence with Rosie Boylan, the milliner for the movie Australia. We swapped emails several times and I guess with me asking several things she either missed this question I’m about to ask or didn’t want to tell me. She was very nice though! I just don’t want to bother her again, I’m afraid she’ll think I’m nuts or someone lying to get her designs. Trust me I’m definitely not a milliner or designer of any kind. I just mailed a hat to a milliner just to shape it the way I want. Enough boring you, would happen to know what those 2 white things are on the side of the Drover’s hat? Or how I could find out. I’ve searched everything Australian or Aboriginal I can think of. Can you help me out?
Audra Falin
August 29th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
Hello Craig,
Thank you for your inquiry.
The hats in the movie Australia were primarily supplied by Akubra, a famous Australian hat company. They supplied hundreds of hats for this film, many of which were custom made and designed for the film-makers needs.
We Akubras we carry are called ‘Snowy River’ and ‘Sydney’. One of the primary benefits of the ‘Sydney’ (aside from its simple colour) is the fact that it can be shaped in a variety of ways with some steam, allowing the wearer to get creative and form a signature style!
August 29th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Hello Audra,
Thank you for getting in touch!
Having looked at pictures of Hugh Jackman in the movie it seems to me that these white things are actually feathers.
As far as we know, they have no significance other than they look good!
It is common for seasoned hat wearers to add their own touches and details to the band of their hats. Whether its a feather, a ribbon, flower… anything at all that adds colour or personality!
Hope that helps,
Edie Hats