The EMU Australia brand emerged out of Jackson's tannery, one of Australia's largest sheepskin tanneries.  The tannery began in 1948 as a family-owned business and employed many workers from the Geelong area of Australia which is the heart of the world's finest quality wool growing district. In the 1970's local surfers invented the original 'ugly sheepskin boot'.  The name EMU (Australia's national bird)is meant to reflect the company's core values which include resilience, resourcefulness and the ability to move forward at a fast speed.  Today many of the workers of the original Jackson's tannery continue to work on the same site for the EMU brand, bringing with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.