Bill Conner was the first to make an Australian leather hat with a shapeable brim. To this day, his iconic designs are known and loved worldwide. Bill Conner’s hats (BC Hats) are all hand made in Byron Bay, Australia. Each one is created with a keen attention to both craft and detail.
Start with the material and silhouette you want. Choose the BC Hats Bac Pac Traveller Oily Leather for a classic Australian leather look, or choose the BC Hats Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh for a lighter canvas-based option. The BC Hats Streetwise Leather Fedora is the collection’s more traditional fedora-shaped option.
Use the available sizes—Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large—to select the closest fit shown for the product. For care, follow the guidance for the specific material: leather needs leather-appropriate care, while canvas and mesh should be cared for according to their product instructions. Check each product page for its exact style and available size.
Bill Conner created Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim, revolutionizing the Australian hat industry with lightweight leather construction that allowed wearers to customize the brim shape. In 1993, he received the Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the Australian government for bringing this innovation to the world stage.
Bill manufactured his BC Hats in Byron Bay for over 50 years before retiring in 2020. Production has permanently ceased. The last remaining Bill Conner hats made in Australia are collector's items; once sold out they're gone. Each hat is handmade using Bill's original construction methods—oily water-resistant leather, hand-stitched details, and the signature shapeable brim that made BC Hats famous after the 1986 release of Crocodile Dundee.
Unlike modern Conner Hats (designed by Bill's son Will and manufactured globally), BC Hats are:
Only 2–4 BC Hat styles remain in limited sizes:
Once current inventory sells out, authentic Bill Conner BC Hats will only be available secondhand.
BC Hats are the original handmade leather hats made by Bill Conner in Byron Bay, Australia. These limited hats were made before Bill retired in 2020, and they are no longer being produced. Conner Hats is the broader brand created by Bill’s son Will, offering a wide range of hat styles made from carefully chosen materials in several countries. BC Hats represent Bill’s personal craftsmanship legacy. In 1993, he received the NSW government’s Small Business Exporter of the Year Award for creating Australia’s original leather hat with a shapeable brim.
No. Bill Conner retired in 2020 and permanently closed his Byron Bay workshop. The BC Hats available through Conner Hats represent the final inventory—no additional hats will be produced. Will Conner (Bill's son) acquired the remaining stock to preserve his father's legacy. Once these hats sell out, authentic BC Hats will only be available through secondhand markets.
BC Hats are considered collectible because production has permanently ceased and Bill Conner's 50-year legacy is documented. His innovation was creating Australia's first leather hat with a shapeable brim. BC Hats gained international recognition after appearing in the 1986 film *Crocodile Dundee*, and in 1988 became the official hat of the Brisbane World Expo. Limited remaining inventory combined with historical significance makes BC Hats collectible items rather than just functional headwear.
Bill Conner's shapeable brim innovation allows you to manually shape and hold the leather brim in your preferred position—turned up, turned down, curved, or flat. The oily steer hide leather used in BC Hats is flexible enough to mold by hand but holds its shape through wear. This was revolutionary at a time when most leather hats had stiff, fixed brims. You can customize the look to suit your face shape and style preference, and the brim retains that shape until you reshape it.
BC Hats use oily water-resistant leather that improves with age and requires minimal maintenance. For regular care: brush off dust with a soft cloth, allow the hat to air dry if wet (never use direct heat), and store away from direct sunlight. The oily finish naturally repels water—you don't need to apply conditioners or waterproofing products. If the leather feels dry after years of use, apply a small amount of leather conditioner designed for oily leather. BC Hats crushables have a coiled spring wire in the brim, so they can be crushed for a moment and pop back into shape. For travel, pack it properly; see our hat care page.
Availability varies by style and changes as inventory sells. The Bac Pac Traveller is currently available in Small through XX-Large (limited quantities in X-Large and XX-Large). The Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh Hat is available in Small through XX-Large. Check individual product pages for real-time size availability. Conner Hats cannot restock sold-out sizes because production has ended.
The BC Hats Bac Pac Traveller Oily Leather is the collection’s travel-focused option by name. It uses oily leather. If you prefer a canvas-based design, the BC Hats Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh is another option to compare. Review each product page for its available sizes and material-specific details.
Yes. The collection includes men’s and women’s options, including Aussie hats, fedoras, and a specifically named BC Hats Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh hat. Because the styles and materials differ, compare the product names and photographs to find the shape that best matches your intended look.
Bill Conner retired in 2020. The available BC Hats collection is therefore remaining stock from his handmade Byron Bay production, rather than a currently expanding line. This limited availability is one reason shoppers interested in the original designs may choose to purchase while their preferred style and size are available.
| Hat | Material | Water Resistance | Brim |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Hats Bac Pac Traveller | Oily Australian leather | Water-resistant | Packable |
| BC Hats Streetwise Leather Fedora | Oily steer hide | Water-resistant oily finish | 2" shapeable brim |
| BC Hats Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh | Water-resistant canvas with mesh | Water-resistant | Coiled spring wire brim, crushable |
All three are handmade in Byron Bay, Australia.
