Some 85 years ago, a young bushwalker's dissatisfaction with the limited and heavy bushwalking equipment available prompted him to design and make his own. Before long, word spread, and Paddy Pallin's lightweight, functional designs were soon in demand among fellow bushwalkers.

Such was the demand for his specialist equipment (mainly rucksacks, tents and sleeping bags) he opened his first store in Sydney in the early 1930's. In order to cater for the total Australian market and the growing demand for his products, he appointed an agent in each state and offered a mail-order service.

The backpacking travel boom in the 1960's created an entirely new market, which dwarfed the early Australian wilderness travel market. Paddy's had to respond by opening more stores to meet this demand.

From its early days the company has concentrated on supplying bushwalkers, trekkers and travellers with the highest quality and most advanced products, not only from the Pallin clothing and Paddy Pallin equipment labels, but also by sourcing a broad range of equipment from some of the world's leading manufacturers.

In the mid 1980's Paddy Pallin broadened this choice by launching a line of Adventure Travel Clothing. This was the first time a range of durable, reliable, lightweight, easy-care, specialist clothing was offered to the Australian market. This evolving product range continues to set the market standard.