Despite its Outback history and rugged bushman branding, the R.M. Williams Outback Heritage Museum is actually in the Adelaide suburb of Prospect. Visit free of charge both to immerse in a classic Australian brand and to shop for boots, clothing, and accessories. Many travelers opt to visit independently, to maximize shopping time; alternatively, look for an Adelaide shopping tour or build your own bespoke city tour to encompass this heritage brand.
The R.M. Williams Outback Heritage Museum will be of most interest to fans of the R.M. Williams brand and Outback aficionados.
If you’re planning on buying boots, bring (or wear) socks.
Production moved away from the site in the 1970s, so don’t expect to see craftsmen in action.
The R.M. Williams Outback Heritage Museum is located in the suburb of Prospect in northern Adelaide, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) north of Adelaide city center. Catch the G10 bus to stop 14 (Prospect Road west side) from the north end of King William Street, Victoria Square, or Sturt Street.
The R.M. Williams store and museum are both open from morning to late afternoon Monday through Saturday, with shorter hours on Sunday. Due to its relatively out-of-the-way location, the museum is rarely very busy, but for the quietest shopping experience visit in the morning during the working week.
Born to a settler family in 1908, Reginald Murray (R.M.) Williams ran away from Adelaide to live the Outback life aged just 15, before the Great Depression forced him home. Starting as a saddlemaker, he made his name with boots, then expanded into hats and clothing, buying an actual gold mine along the way. He sold his business in 1988 and lived to the ripe old age of 95.