BC Hats by Bill Conner—handmade in Byron Bay. These are the last authentic BC Hats available worldwide. Each hat represents 50 years of Australian hatmaking heritage and Bill's original shapeable-brim construction that earned him the 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the Australian government.
Bill Conner revolutionized the Australian hat industry when he created Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim. For 50 years, he handcrafted every BC Hat in his Byron Bay workshop using techniques he developed and refined over five decades. In 1993, the Australian government awarded him Small Business Exporter of the Year for bringing this innovation to the world stage.
Bill Conner retired in 2020 and permanently closed his Byron Bay workshop. Production has ceased. The last remaining Bill Conner hats made in Australia are collector's items—no additional hats will be manufactured. Once this stock sells out, BC Hats will only be available through secondhand markets.
BC Hats gained international recognition after the 1986 release of _Crocodile Dundee_, which popularized the Australian outback hat style worldwide. In 1988, BC Hats became the official hat of the Brisbane World Expo. BC Hats are collector's items, sought after by customers once a style is gone.
| Style | Material | Features | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bac Pac Traveller | Oily Australian leather | Shapeable brim, crushable, water-resistant | Limited sizes |
| Cool as a Breeze | Australian canvas with mesh | Ventilated, lightweight, chin cord | Most sizes available |
Current inventory represents the final BC Hats available worldwide. Sizes vary by style and cannot be restocked once sold out.
No. Bill Conner retired in 2020 and permanently closed his Byron Bay workshop after 50 years of manufacturing. Production has ceased. 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 becoming collectors' items for several reasons: Bill Conner created Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim, earning the 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the NSW government. The hats gained international fame after appearing in the 1986 film _Crocodile Dundee_ and serving as the official hat of the 1988 Brisbane World Expo. Customers tell us their BC Hats have lasted 30+ years. With production permanently ended and limited stock remaining, BC Hats mark the end of an era for these original hats known around the world.
BC Hats are original hats made in Byron Bay before Bill Conner retired in 2020, using his original construction methods. Their crushable styles and the Cool as a Breeze Canvas Mesh include coiled spring wire reinforcement, which helps make the brim shapeable. BC Hats leather styles use genuine leather, while Cool as a Breeze is canvas mesh. The shapeable leather brim is the feature recognized when Bill received the NSW government's 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award for creating Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim.
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. The coiled spring wire reinforcement incorporated into the brim allows the brim to be shaped and hold its form, creating the signature look and functionality that Australian stockmen, ranchers, and outdoor workers have relied on for over 50 years. You can customize the look to suit your face shape and style preference, and the brim retains that shape until you reshape it.
For BC Hats, “crushable” means the hat has coiled spring wire reinforcement that allows it to be compressed flat for packing in luggage or backpacks, then spring back to its original shape when removed. This feature makes BC Hats practical for travel while helping them retain their structured look. The crushable design doesn't compromise durability: customers tell us their BC Hats have lasted 30+ years.
BC Hats use oily water-resistant leather that improves with age and requires minimal maintenance. 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 treatments. If the leather feels dry after years of use, apply a small amount of leather conditioner designed for oily leather. The crushable design means you can pack BC Hats flat for travel; they'll return to their original shape when you pop the crown back out.
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. Some BC Hats sizes, once sold out, cannot be restocked since that original Australian-made run has ended; other Conner Hats styles remain in production.
Bill Conner ("BC") learned the art of handmade leatherwork in St. Augustine, Florida in 1969. In November 1970, he moved to Australia with his wife Marion and 11-month-old son Will. He settled in Byron Bay and focused his talents on handmade leather hats. The debut of the 1982 film _The Man from Snowy River_ made BC's stockman hat a bestseller, and Bill hired his first employees. When _Crocodile Dundee_ was released in 1986, Bill's stockman hat became a bestseller. In 1988, BC Hats became the official hat of the Brisbane World Expo. In 1993, Bill received the Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the NSW government for creating Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim. Bill manufactured his BC Hats in Byron Bay for over 50 years before retiring in 2020 to spend more time surfing and playing music.
BC Hats are the original handmade leather hats made by Bill Conner in Byron Bay, Australia. Conner Hats is the broader brand created by Bill's son Will, offering a range of hat styles made from sustainable materials worldwide. BC Hats represent Bill's personal craftsmanship legacy, with each one handmade in his Byron Bay workshop using techniques he developed over 50 years. Bill received the 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the NSW government for creating Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim. Will Conner continues the family hat-making tradition through the Conner Hats brand, which includes the remaining BC Hats inventory and new designs made with sustainable materials.
