Originally published by Savannah Pocock of The Daily Telegraph
05.06.2026
A war of boots is being played out in Aussie homes and workplaces, with the nation’s top mining magnates going toe-to-toe on an unlikely battleground.
On one side: Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest, whose South Australian-made RM Williams boots are an institution – but whose price tag has crept upwards of $800.
On the other foot is Gina Rinehart’s brand Kidman Boots – which are made overseas but sell at a more budget-friendly $400.
Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Agriculture launched Kidman Boots just over a year ago.
CEO Adam Giles said RM’s surging price tag had opened a gap in the market that was ripe for competitors.
“The average Australian cannot afford to pay $800 for a pair of boots, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis when electricity and grocery prices are rising,” he said.
“It’s just madness.
“We saw an opportunity because we thought people were being priced out.”
R.M.Williams chief customer officer Angela Winkle said their boots had been made in Adelaide for more than 90 years, giving them direct oversight of every production stage to maintain the quality.
“It’s also enabled us to invest in Australian jobs, skills and training, creating more than 350 jobs since returning to Australian ownership and helping develop the next generation of craftspeople,” she said.
More than 25,000 pairs are repaired each year in their workshop.
“We’re not crafting boots to last a season, we’re making boots to last and last. Our customers see them as an investment piece that can be worn, repaired and handed down through generations,” Ms Winkle said.
“Our customers recognise the long-term value of a product that’s built to last and can be repaired rather than replaced, which is why R.M.Williams is on track for its biggest year to date.”
Kidman Boots are designed and prepared in Australia but manufactured overseas.
Mr Giles said while everyone wants to support Australian-made products, and to know their items have been made ethically, there’s one factor even more customers consider when shopping.
“More often than not, consumers are deciding on price,” he said.
“We do everything we can in Australia, but outsource the manufacturing component overseas. The boots are returned in the perfect quality of a higher standard boot but with a much lower price point.”
In the future, Hancock Agriculture – which is also one of Australia’s largest cattle companies – plans to use leather from their own stock to make Kidman Boots.
“We will be the only Australian company that can do that,” he said.
Ms Rinehart’s Hancock Agriculture launched Kidman Boots just over a year ago, after buying Australian footwear company Rossi, which historically made footwear for Australian soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.
A research and marketing analysis group issued a paper stating the higher end of the men’s footwear market was worth more than a combined $500m a year, while the similar category for women could be valued at six times that. It’s no surprise that Rinehart’s company has developed a popular line of leather boots in a variety of colours, especially designed for women buyers.
Consumer behaviour analyst Barry Urquhart said while he was not concerned about boots being manufactured overseas, RM Williams was an established brand with a premium product.
“You are not dealing with the average Joe consumer. It’s up-market and represents value. It’s a recognised brand that has made its mark,” he said.
“When you are wearing it, you are making a statement. It is unique, authentic, very limited and Australian.”
When it came to the price point, he said anyone willing to take $500 out of their wallet to pay for a pair of boots will likely not be fazed on spending a couple more hundred dollars for a different pair.
The Australian Workers Union has been contacted for comment.
