R. M. Williams
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Reginald Murray Williams AO, CMG, (May 24, 1908-November 4, 2003) was an Australian bushman and entrepreneur who rose from a swagman, to a millionaire widely known as just 'R.M.' He was born at Belalie North near Jamestown in the Mid North, 200 kilometres north of Adelaide, into a pioneering settler family working and training horses. R.M. had many adventures in Australia's rugged outback as a bushman, and became famous for creating a uniquely Australian style of bushwear recognized world wide. He was married twice, had ten children (David is deceased), and left an enduring contribution to the Australian identity.
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[edit] Personal life
At 10 years old, Williams' family moved to Adelaide so that he and his two sisters could attend school there. School did not agree with him and so, at 13, he packed his swag and left for the land he loved. At 18 he started work as a camel driver and spent 3 years trekking through the Australian desert, living with aborigines and learning to survive the harsh conditions. During the great depression, with the lack of work, Williams returned to Adelaide where he met Thelma Cummins[1]. They married and returned to the bush, living off the land in the Flinders Ranges.[2]
After his marriage broke down in the 1950s, Williams purchased 55 hectares of land at the rear of Yatala Labour Prison South Australia. He constructed a homestead, planted vineyards and thousands of roses, and ran rodeos on the floodplain of Dry Creek.[3] When the land was compulsory acquired during the time of former State Premier Sir Thomas Playford, Williams left South Australia for his Rockybar property in Queensland, vowing never to return. He re-married in 1955, had four more children, and died in his home on the Darling Downs in Queensland.
[edit] Bushwear
[edit] Starting out
Williams learned his leatherworking skills from a horseman called Dollar Mick, making bridles, pack saddles and riding boots. In 1932, with his son's illness and the expense of hospital treatment, he was in need of money and began selling his saddles to Sir Sidney Kidman (a wealthy pastoralist). Williams soon had a small factory running in his father's back shed in Adelaide that rapidly expanded. To address financial problems, Williams became involved with the successful gold mine, Nobles Nob, near Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.[4]
[edit] Products
His most famous products were handcrafted (mostly elastic side) riding boots, with the unique feature of all being one piece of leather and stitched up the back. To this day, The R. M. Williams Company still makes their boots with 70 hand processes and a single piece of leather. The Cowley family are the major owners of R.M. Williams Ltd.
Some R. M. Williams products are now made in China, but this is only a limited selection, mostly t-shirts and caps.[5]
[edit] Legacy
- The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame. Originating as an idea by artist Hugh Sawrey, RM Wiliams was an original board member of this institution that was opened in Longreach Queensland, Australia., by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on the 29th April, 1988.
- Founded the Australian Roughriders Association.
- Helped to form the Equestrian Federation of Australia (1951).
- Led a committee which initiated and planned the Bicentennial National Trail.[6]
[edit] Published works
- Williams, R.M. (1998). A song in the desert. Pymble, New South Wales: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-19832-2.
- Williams, R.M.; Ruhen, Olaf (1984). Beneath whose hand / the autobiography of R.M. Williams. South Melbourne: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 0-333-38087-8.
- Williams, R.M. (1972). The bushman's handcrafts. Netley, South Australia: R.M. Williams Pty Ltd. ISBN 0-9599299-0-8.
[edit] References
- ^ South Australian Marriages, Registrations 1917-1937; compiled by South Australian Genealogy & Heraldry Soc. Inc., published in Sep 2002 by SAGHS Inc. and Macbeath Genealogy Services Pty. Ltd. ISBN 0 947 158 96 0
- ^ R.M. Williams (1908-2003) Retrieved on 19/6/2006
- ^ "DRY CREEK - LINEAR PARK WALKLEY HEIGHTS". Postcards SA. 2006-05-22. http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/features/dry_creek_lin_park.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-19.
- ^ "R.M. Williams (1908-2003)". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-11-05. http://www.abc.net.au/btn/australians/rmwilliams.htm. Retrieved on 2006-06-19.
- ^ AsiaPulse News (November 2002). "AUSTRALIA'S RM WILLIAMS TO START MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS IN CHINA". Look Smart, Find articles. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1523/is_200211/ai_n7253186. Retrieved on 2006-06-19.
- ^ Bicentennial National Trail
[edit] Further reading
- ABC Audio (2004), I Once Met a Man, R.M. Williams, 4 CD Set, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
