Established in 1989, Aussie Bush Leather began in the owner, Craig Bates’ spare bedroom in a small house situated in St Marys, Sydney. The business started out wholesaling small souvenir products to souvenir and duty free stores throughout Australia under the company name Cee Bee Souvenirs. Cee Bee employed their first staff member in 1990, to later move into a factory in Leehome drive, St Marys i
n 1992. During this time the business was approached by a retired handbag designer, John Dwinger who at the age of 72 came out of retirement and began designing product lines for Cee Bee Souvenirs. Throughout the six-year period of John's employment, with his extensive knowledge of the industry and his 50 years’ experience, he transformed the business from manufacturing souvenir lines to produce a range of high quality handbags, wallets and other fashion items. These being crafted out of the finest kangaroo, cowhide, ostrich and crocodile leathers. The business rapidly expanded into manufacturing over 300 lines of products, employing up to 30 people at its peak. A range of factors caused a drop in the tourism industry in the mid to late 1990s. In 1997 the company moved to Tamworth and diversified into retail while still manufacturing and wholesaling their quality leather goods. ABL now manufacturers a large range of handbags, wallets, Ugg boots and travel goods in their factory, located directly behind their retail store in Tamworth, NSW. With more and more Australian companies outsourcing their manufacturing off shore,
ABL pride themselves on still making the same beautiful quality products that they have been producing for the past 25 years and providing the same good old fashioned Aussie customer service. As well as producing their own range of leather goods, ABL stock a large range of Australian made products and brands as well as continually sourcing Aussie made to add to the diversity and to uphold the ethos of the business… Proud to be Australian.
