BC Hats by Bill Conner—handmade in Byron Bay from 1969 to 2020. These are the last authentic BC Hats available worldwide. Production has permanently ceased. 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 in 1969 when he created the first leather outback 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. Conner Hats holds the only remaining inventory of authentic BC Hats in the world—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. Customer reviews document BC Hats lasting 30+ years with regular use, and the brand is now recognized as one of the few hat brands increasing in value after production has ended.
| Style | Material | Features | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bac Pac Traveller | Oily Australian leather | Shapeable brim, crushable, waterproof | $185 | Limited sizes |
| Cool as a Breeze | Australian canvas with mesh | Ventilated, lightweight, chin cord | $95 | 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 in 1969, earning the 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the Australian 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. Customer reviews document BC Hats lasting 30+ years with regular use. With production permanently ended and limited stock remaining, BC Hats are recognized as one of the few hat brands increasing in value after manufacturing has ceased.
BC Hats are handcrafted in Byron Bay, Australia using Bill Conner's original construction methods developed over 50 years. The construction uses genuine oily Australian leather (waterproof steer hide), incorporates coiled spring wire reinforcement that allows brim shaping while maintaining memory, and employs hand-stitched details refined through decades of manufacturing. Mass-produced Australian-style hats typically use imported materials, lack the wire-reinforced shapeable brim, and don't have the crushable-yet-resilient construction that BC Hats pioneered. Only BC Hats feature the original shapeable leather brim construction that earned Bill Conner the 1993 Australian government award.
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.
Crushable construction means the hat contains 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 maintaining the structured look and sun protection of a traditional outback hat. The crushable design doesn't compromise durability—customer reviews document BC Hats lasting 30+ years with regular use.
BC Hats use oily waterproof 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. Conner Hats cannot restock sold-out sizes because production has permanently ended.
Bill Conner ("BC") learned the art of handmade leatherwork in St. Augustine, Florida in April 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_ popularized BC's iconic hat style, allowing Bill to hire his first employees and start a small factory. When _Crocodile Dundee_ was released in 1986, Bill started getting calls from distributors worldwide. 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 Australian government for creating Australia's original leather hat with a shapeable brim. Bill manufactured his BC Hats in Byron Bay for 50 years before retiring in 2020 to spend more time surfing and playing music.
BC Hats are the original handmade leather hats created by Bill Conner in Byron Bay, Australia from 1969-2020. Conner Hats is the broader brand founded by Bill's son Will, offering hundreds of hat styles made from sustainable materials worldwide. BC Hats represent Bill's personal craftsmanship legacy—each one handmade in his Byron Bay workshop using techniques he developed over 50 years. Only BC Hats feature the original shapeable leather brim construction that earned Bill the 1993 Small Business Exporter of the Year Award from the Australian government. Will Conner continues the family hat-making tradition through the Conner Hats brand, which includes both the remaining BC Hats inventory and new designs made with sustainable materials.
