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An Australian Sabbatical:
February-July 2022

Jackaroo & Jillaroo boots (they are EVERYWHERE)

3/2/2022

4 Comments

 
In my first few days in Australia, I noticed that some of the men were wearing a style of boot I hadn't seen before: an ankle-high leather boots with elastic sides on the inner and outer ankle portion. As I started paying attention, I realized that essentially ALL of the men were wearing these boots - including people wearing professional suits, construction workers, and people in casual clothes. And now that I've paid more attention, I see variation on these boots for women too - including what seems to be high fashion. These boots are EVERYWHERE, and they have their roots in the Jackaroo / Jillaroo culture of Australia (essentially Australia's cowboys).
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A google search for "Australian boots" turns up only this Jackaroo-style boot.
During my Fulbright orientation in Canberra, at a session designed to teach us tips and tricks for navigating a new culture, I asked about the boots everyone at the orientation seemed to be wearing. People laughed, one man took off his boot and held it in the air, and several people described the roots of these boots in Australian culture and the different brands. Apparently they last a long time, are easier to waterproof than other types of boots/shoes because there is no tongue/laces, and the sole can be replaced. Instead of calling them "boots" or something, Aussie's call them "RMs," "Blundstones," or "Rossis."

They are truly ubiquitous.

Blundstone
Rossi
RM Williams (holy expensive!)

Friends stateside schooled me: these are common in other countries too, including in the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel, and even the US. Commonly called Chelsea boots. In the US, makers include Frye, Uggs, Clarks, Allen Edmonds, and more.

I might end up coming home with some new boots. ​😅
Postscript:

Reader, I have new boots and will be bringing them home to the U.S. with me. I love them!  They're extremely comfortable and also I went camping for three days in the winter in the Blue Mountains here in Aus with them and they were p.e.r.f.e.c.t.
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4 Comments
Philip Gibbs
4/6/2022 11:10:27 am

Blundstone is a brand of boot which for many many years were made in Tasmania. Australian army boots during WW2 were made by this firm. Sadly they are now made in China.
Rossi boots are made in South Australia.
RM Williams boots are for poseurs.
Welcome to Australia but.....if you want to see the real Australia then come on over the west.

Reply
Tess Neal
6/14/2022 09:02:51 pm

Thanks for this comment Philip. We made it out to Perth (and Rottnest Island) - and it was beautiful out west. We're hoping to try to make it west one more time, but we will see what we can swing in the time we have left. So much beautiful country here.

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Hasan Babar link
12/13/2022 08:35:22 am

Keep it up

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Hasan Babar link
12/18/2022 05:52:24 am

This is very nice post

Reply



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    Tess M.S. Neal

    Sharing my sabbatical adventure in Australia with my partner and our two young boys. We are staying in Sydney for 4 months on a Fulbright Scholar Award.

    I'm writing this blog to (1) demystify the nature of a sabbatical (I didn't really know what they were either until I started one), and (2) serve my aim as cultural ambassador between the U.S. and Australia in the spirit of Fulbright.

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