Who is Paddy Pallin?

The name Paddy Pallin certainly means many things to many people. For some it brings to mind the genial personality of one of Australia’s pioneer bushwalkers. Others will recognise the name from the label of a sleeping bag or rucksack that has given a generation of faithful service in the great outdoors. Or perhaps it brings to mind the colourful history of Australia’s greatest cross-country ski race. For most people however, the name is associated with a group of specialist retail stores catering for travellers and outdoor enthusiasts.

 

Brief History

Some 80 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, travellers and skiers 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 AdventureTravel 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.

Today

Since its inception, the name of Paddy Pallin became synonymous with the Australian bush, and the company he founded has grown to become Australia’s leading supplier of specialist outdoor and travel gear. The company has 13 stores throughout Australia.

Paddy Pallin has a mail-order and online division to provide additional service to the Australian market. The company also has a specialised division, Adventure Equipment, which supplies the defence forces, emergency services, schools, and other institutions.

Still owned by the Pallin family, the company continues its tradition of designing and sourcing technical adventure clothing and equipment for the Australian market. This has enabled the combining of cutting edge technology with the wisdom gleaned from many years of experience.

Our tradition of innovation sets us apart from all others in our field. Paddy Pallin was the first to provide functional, high quality equipment for the outdoors in the 1930’s and his company continues to be the market leader today.

Paddy Pallin Foundation

The Paddy Pallin Foundation has been set up by the Pallin family so that Paddy Pallin Pty Ltd and its customers and friends can contribute to better conservation of the natural environment for future generations, and the animals and plants that inhabit it.

We are hoping to purchase or contribute to the purchase of land of high conservation value that is not yet within the state or private reserve system. From time to time the Paddy Pallin Foundation will be promoting donations to specific causes as nominated by the Management Committee of the Foundation. A full list of objectives can be found on the Foundation’s website.

The initial aim is for Paddy Pallin companies to contribute to a corpus so that the foundation eventually becomes self funding. Any contributions from the public, however, will be passed through to the recipient organisation without any administration fees.

It is not intended that the Paddy Pallin Foundation will accept random requests for grants. The Management Committee will decide on specific areas of interest to the Foundation and call for Expressions of Interest from nominated organisations.

The Paddy Pallin Natural Environment Fund is managed by the Paddy Pallin Foundation as trustee. Gifts of over $2.00 to The Paddy Pallin Natural Environment Fund are tax deductible.

For further information on the Paddy Pallin Foundation go to www.paddypallinfoundation.org.au

 

About The Author

admin

Some 80 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. From its early days the company has concentrated on supplying bushwalkers, travellers and adventurers with the highest quality and most advanced products and knowledge. Since 1930 the company has grown to become Australia's leading supplier of specialist outdoor and travel gear. The company, still owned by the Pallin family, now has thirteen stores throughout Australia as well as online, mail order and corporate sales divisions. We are using our vast wealth of knowledge, and experience, to build an online community where we can share our stories, reviews and tech tips to help you research and plan your next adventure.

2 Responses

  1. Nancy Pallin

    Hi staff,
    A friend wants to know how to clean the saltwater and penguin poo from his goretext jacket. What do you currently recommend?

    Nancy