Paddy Pallin

Biography

Born in County Durham, England, in 1900, Pallin developed a love for the outdoors while on family picnics and Scout trips to the Yorkshire countryside. After he emigrated to Sydney, Australia, in 1926 he worked initially as a sharefarmer and then as an insurance clerk. He became an original member of the Sydney Bushwalking Club which was founded in 1927 and then, becoming a victim of the great depression in 1930, he began making lightweight, waterproof outdoor equipment and clothing.

His business soon began to pay for itself when people realised bushwalking was a cheap activity and no-one else was making high quality bush equipment. Pallin opened a store in George Street during the depression and as his business grew moved to other premises throughout the city. In 1933 Pallin wrote and published the book Bushwalking and Camping which he sold in his stores (the book is still being published today and is in its 14th edition). In 1939 he co-founded The Bush Club, a walking club with a different philosophy to the Sydney Bushwalking Club. (Both clubs are still active today).

Pallin started cross-country skiing in 1954 but he quickly capitalised on the boom for the sport by retailing skiing equipment. This led him to become one of the country's biggest skiing, camping and bushwalking manufacturer and retailer.

In 1975 he established the Paddy Pallin Foundation to assist conservation projects and in the same year was awarded an Order of Australia. Pallin was involved in numerous community organisations including: the Youth Hostels Association, the Scout Association and the National Parks Association of NSW.

Paddy's autobiography Never Truly Lost is often looked at as an inspiration to anyone interested in getting out into the wilderness.

Notable achievements