Hannahs started from humble beginnings with a young cobbler, Robert Hannah, making boots for prospectors during the gold rush years in Charleston on the west cost of New Zealand’s South Island back in 1868. Hannahs has since grown to become one of the country’s most well-known retailers with 50 stores in operation and head office in the Wellington region.
Hannahs continues its proud heritage with a large range of footwear for men, women and kids for all occasions and stocks quality international brands such as Clarks, Hush Puppies, Steve Madden and Keds as well as well-known local brands such as Pulp, Noir and Creatures of Comfort which take on-trend, international influence catered to the New Zealand market.
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image credit: Rodgers, P J, active 1939. Panoramic photograph of R. Hannah & Co. Ltd staff at Leeds Street factory. Ref: PA6-824. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/37137793
We are very proud of our heritage at Hannahs. We have provided New Zealand families with quality footwear for over 140 years.
Our founding father was Robert Hannah, an Irish emigrant, who opened his first boot shop in Charleston in 1868 during the West Coast gold rush. He moved to Wellington when the gold rush ended, and in June 1874 announced the opening on Lambton Quay of Robert Hannah & Co., who “had long and practical experience in the business” and sought the patronage of the people of Wellington.
Robert Hannah was an entrepreneur of his times. He was reputed to be a shrewd and hard businessman, who also cared deeply for his staff. He paid them above the going wage, and worked hard to keep them employed during the Depression years.
Robert Hannah died in 1930. At the time of his death there were 19 branches in the North Island, 11 in the South Island, and a factory in Wellington.
Today, Hannahs is New Zealand’s most famous footwear brand. We have 51 stores nation-wide, as well as 5 Pulp, and 10 Hush Puppies sister stores in New Zealand and Australia.
