The Hattery Katoomba, AU

[Nik Taylor]

I just had a very nice experience I would enjoy sharing with you folks.

I was visiting Sydney and wanted to see the 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains. In order to get there I needed to pass through a town called Katoomba. After my long drive I wanted to grab a cup of coffee and I searched for a parking spot. I found a spot and across the street I saw a store called "The Hattery". I thought hmmmm name sounds familiar. Then it hit me all at once.....these are the people I buy my Akubras from. I have two Federation Deluxe IV in Brown and Moonstone. I know them as Hatsdirect.com

I walk in and I meet two very nice people, Jenny and Trudi. They were knowledgeable, patient and professional. I told them that I wanted a hat that I would use as a travel hat, one that I simply could put in my suitcase, but not a foldable. They suggested the "Fedora" model and a few others . I bought the "Fedora" as it suited my needs. I bought an "open" Crown as I do not use steam to shape the crowns

That hat has attitude, it is a spitfire compared to my Federations which themselves make bold statements.

Here is a stock photo

Here is a photo of The Hattery. I did not take this picture either.

 

[Neophyte]

Really good choice, sir. I myself purchased a Fedora online. I didn't like it that much because it had plenty of taper, but it was indeed a very, very soft hat and Carbon Grey and Burnt Oak are beautiful colors. It's great that you got to go to that store.

Jenny's the one that usually responds to my email questions.

Don't forget to post some pics of the Fedora on the Overload thread. We don't have many pics of the Fedora, much much less the Burnt Oak color.

 

[James71]

Welcome to Katoomba! Sorry we couldn't put on decent weather for you. A cold front has come through and its howling a gale out there.

Oh man! A lounger in my home town and we didn't catch up for a coffee or a cocktail! Bummer. If you are still around town and want to catch up for a coffee at the hattery let me know. Make sure you visit the Carrington before you move on.

The ladies at the Hattery always treat me very well indeed and Im in there at least once a fortnight. Living in the same town as the Hattery is a constant temptation for me..... Great coffee too.

 

[theinterchange]

Thanks for the photo of the shop, it's nice to put a place to the name. I had no idea they also have a coffee shop.

Randy

 

[Duper]

Yes, thanks for the photo. It is nice to add a little brick and concrete imagery to the cyber stores I visit. I'm sure you will get even more special treatment on your next online order, seeing as you are really a "regular" now.

 

[Rick Blaine]

Go on ahead, rub salt in the wound...

Welcome to Katoomba! Sorry we couldn't put on decent weather for you. A cold front has come through and its howling a gale out there.

Oh man! A lounger in my home town and we didn't catch up for a coffee or a cocktail! Bummer. If you are still around town and want to catch up for a coffee at the hattery let me know. Make sure you visit the Carrington before you move on.

The ladies at the Hattery always treat me very well indeed and Im in there at least once a fortnight. Living in the same town as the Hattery is a constant temptation for me..... Great coffee too.

A lucky man in The Lucky Country. Some of ya'll get ALL the breaks!

 

[AlterEgo]

Nik,

So you just happened to be in Katoomba and stumbled onto The Hattery? Wow, what luck!

Had that happened to me, I would have had to buy extra luggage to carry all my new hats back to the States. As they are the only source for the Federation IV (I got my moonstone Deluxe there last year), I would not have been able to resist getting one in every color.

Tell us more about the place: What other Akubras do they stock in colors not usually available elsewhere? Do they stock other hat brands? Do they sell anything other than hats (and coffee)? How big is the place inside?

I know you'll enjoy your new Fedora, AKA Sydney by some vendors. That burnt oak color is not offered by David Morgan, the only North American importer of Akubras. Mine's charcoal. It's not truly crushable, but the felt is so soft and pliable that it essentially is, and it's the most comfortable out-of-the-box hat I've ever tried on. Its unique felt is more delicate than Akubra's other felts, so you'll need to be a bit more careful and definitely do not make sharp creases in the bash--I learned that the hard way--for it's extremely difficult to remove them if and when you decide to re-bash it.

Translated into U.S. dollars, what did you pay for it? Do you have to pay tax even though you're an American? Do you have to pay duty or can you simply put it on your head and cruise through Customs? I'm just wondering what it costs for a foreigner to buy an Akubra in person in Australia versus ordering from home and having it shipped.

 

[Tomasso]

I saw a store called "The Hattery". I thought hmmmm name sounds familiar. Then it hit me all at once.....these are the people I buy my Akubras from. I have two Federation Deluxe IV in Brown and Moonstone. I know them as Hatsdirect.com

Quite an incredulous story.

 

[James71]

A lucky man in The Lucky Country. Some of ya'll get ALL the breaks!

Its a beautiful town to live in for lots of reasons, but having the hattery is definitely a great bonus.

Although for a lover of hats like yours truely it can be expensive. Its very easy to just walk into town for a coffee and one of their excellent friands and end up walking home with a new hat and wondering where you will have room to hang it..... [huh]

 

[danofarlington]

Its a beautiful town to live in for lots of reasons, but having the hattery is definitely a great bonus.

Although for a lover of hats like yours truely it can be expensive. Its very easy to just walk into town for a coffee and one of their excellent friands and end up walking home with a new hat and wondering where you will have room to hang it..... [huh]

That's what trailers are for. I thought you knew that.

 

[Nik Taylor]

The store has many accessories and woman's hats. There was a wall devoted to Akubra and the coffee was great. I had a mug of Latte. You have to pass through town in order to get to the Three Sisters in the Blue Mountains.

I have some pictures of my hat I want to share.

 

[djgo-cat-go]

.. that does it!!

.. they even have a Hatters Cafe!? that's it.. I'm off to Katoomba!

 

[elvisroe]

Another hattery visit...

Hey all,
I was also in Katoomba over the weekend and of course made a stop at the World famous Hattery to find my next fedora purchase. They really are a great crew, very friendly and helpful and best of all they actually know their hats! The cafe came in handy as the wife and daughter happily hooked into a coffee and milkshake while I explored the Akubras unpressured.

I tried on a stack of hats and really feel for those of you who can't before buying online - I found I fitted a 60 in the "Fedora", a 59 in the "Squatter" and to my great surprise a 61 in the "Casual"[huh]

I've settled on the casual for my 2010 xmas purchase as it was by far the softest and most comfortable hat there. It has a cotton sweatband but I figure this could work well for a summer lid.

Such a great store!

If I lived where you do James I think I'd go broke!
cr

 

[Puzzicato]

I just had a very nice experience I would enjoy sharing with you folks.

I was visiting Sydney and wanted to see the 3 Sisters in the Blue Mountains. In order to get there I needed to pass through a town called Katoomba. After my long drive I wanted to grab a cup of coffee and I searched for a parking spot. I found a spot and across the street I saw a store called "The Hattery". I thought hmmmm name sounds familiar. Then it hit me all at once.....these are the people I buy my Akubras from. I have two Federation Deluxe IV in Brown and Moonstone. I know them as Hatsdirect.com

Did you get to see the 3 Sisters or were you too distracted by hats? On a clear day it is an amazing view.

 

[danofarlington]

Hey all,
I was also in Katoomba over the weekend and of course made a stop at the World famous Hattery to find my next fedora purchase. They really are a great crew, very friendly and helpful and best of all they actually know their hats! The cafe came in handy as the wife and daughter happily hooked into a coffee and milkshake while I explored the Akubras unpressured.

I tried on a stack of hats and really feel for those of you who can't before buying online - I found I fitted a 60 in the "Fedora", a 59 in the "Squatter" and to my great surprise a 61 in the "Casual"[huh]

I've settled on the casual for my 2010 xmas purchase as it was by far the softest and most comfortable hat there. It has a cotton sweatband but I figure this could work well for a summer lid.

Such a great store!

If I lived where you do James I think I'd go broke!
cr

That's a good one you have on. Is that one "the Casual?"

 

[ScionPI2005]

Dang! This is a great thread! I've bought two Akubras from The Hattery (Stylemaster and Stingy Brim), and always wanted to see the store in person. I'd love to be able to try on Akubras before buying them. I do have to say that they two Akubras I bought from them were two of the best decisions I've made when it comes to buying hats online before trying them. The Stylemaster is one of my go to fedoras, and I like the Stingy Brim for more casual outings.

 

[daizawaguy]

Hey all,
- I found I fitted a 60 in the "Fedora", a 59 in the "Squatter" and to my great surprise a 61 in the "Casual"[huh]

.

Such a great store!


cr

So much size variation?? Or were you just trying them on?

 

[Chuck Bobuck]

Looks great elvisroe! Is that the casual in the photo? I thought the crown on the casual was much lower and tapered.

 

[elvisroe]

Yep, that's the Casual in carbon grey. It was just sooo comfortable when I put it on that I have to get one!

Chuck, I also had that impression of the casual and while it is tapered it's actually got a bit of height to it - Probably due to the loose centre-dent it comes with. It's certainly got an inch or so on the stylemasters I tried on.

daizawaguy, i tried on several sizes in each style and while I average between a 59 and 60 I think the fabric sweatband makes a difference on the Casual. I remember a thread on that hat some time ago warned to go big when ordering.

Here's the same wall from the same spot facing the other direction to give you an idea of how large the store is. Note all those shiny new fedoras!

 

[Nik Taylor]

Did you get to see the 3 Sisters or were you too distracted by hats? On a clear day it is an amazing view.

Yes they were amazing!!! It was downcast and cloudy which gave the 3 Sisters a mystical and enchanted look. After a while the clouds dissipated then colors appeared filling the mountains and the majesty of the range became apparent....