About

About

MORTELS SHEEPSKIN FACTORY IS A MULTI AWARD WINNING AUSTRALIAN-OWNED FAMILY BUSINESS LOCATED IN THE HUNTER REGION.

Frank Mortel (master shoe craftsman) and wife Rita emigrated from the Netherlands in 1956 bringing with them the trade of shoe crafting, a trade that was passed down through the Mortel family for over 150 years. Mortels Shoes commenced in Sydney that year and in 1958 they commenced making ugg boots to add to their range of quality footwear. As such Mortels is one of the oldest, continuously running and most experienced ugg boot manufacturers in the world.

Since 1958 the Mortel family has established a name and reputation solidly built on expertise and experience. The Mortel family relocated the footwear factory from Sydney to the Hunter Region in 1978. From a shed in Lochinvar, the family continued developing their range of sheepskin products and growing their brand.

In 1992, Tony Mortel and wife Stephanie took over the reins of the business. Tony and Stephanie have built upon the brand, expanding into the greater Hunter Region as well as national and international by capitalizing on the strength of quality, experience and expertise. Today, the same skills and dedication are exercised by the Mortel family in the manufacture of an exciting range of premium quality sheepskin products.

Mortels manufacturing base is located at Thornton, and they retail their locally manufactured product from showrooms in both Thornton and Warners Bay. Mortels only distribute in Australia through their own retail outlets to preserve their brand and the quality of Australian manufacturing. They also offer a large range of their products through their website, direct sales to local, national and international customers. Mortels sheepskins are specially selected from Australian grown sheep then tanned to their meticulous standards before being handcrafted into a Mortel product.

In 2015, Mortels Sheepskin Factory manufacturing and retail base expanded to offer a unique, interactive and culturally significant visitor experience for the growing number of domestic and international tourists to the beautiful Hunter Region of New South Wales.

From their purpose built Australiana shearing shed style premises, fully guided tours are conducted through the factory on a raised viewing platform where visitors can experience the sights and sounds of a fully operational manufacturing plant. Visitors watch and learn about the making of Mortels UGG boots, from the raw materials used through to the finished product. The tour finishes in store where the very product they have watched being made can be purchased giving visitors greater shopping enjoyment.

In addition to the tour, visitors can enjoy coffee, sweets, breakfast, and lunch from the Café @ Mortels, and visit The Sheep’s Back Museum @ Mortels to enjoy the history of the ugg boot and culturally significant stories through the history of sheepskin manufacturing and raising of wool throughout Australia.

Mortels Sheepskin Factory are proud to be the home of The Big UGG Boots - the world’s biggest ugg boots. Australia’s iconic uggs are now a significant landmark that offers a prime photo opportunity!

Mortels, since 1958.
Proudly Australian owned, grown and made ... Naturally!

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