So; where did Gum Boots come from?

Many thousands of years ago in Northland, on the North Island of New Zealand, there was a stand of Giant Kauri Trees. When damaged, these trees would exude a thick resinous gum to protect their damaged part. The Maori and Europeans found that this gum had usable properties and it formed the basis for varnishes and even linoleum.

In primeval times the sea level rose and created a vast area of swampland, drowning this extensive stand of Kauri, killing all the trees which, in time, fell and were eventually covered in mud. Such is the nature of Kauri timber that it didn't rot under water and so was created a stratum of timber, and it's gum, embedded in the swampland.

After European settlement, Kauri gum became a valuable commodity and Diggers, probing with long poles, invaded the swamps, seeking the fallen logs and the preserved gum associated with these trees. These "Diggers" were mainly migrant Yugoslavians from Dalmatia who were intent on making enough money to give them a new start in New Zealand.

Conditions in the 'Gumfields' were atrocious, everything was wet and mud covered all around. At first, the Diggers would wind leggins around their legs to prevent the mud from getting into their boots; not a very effective measure and finaly, a type of wellington boot that came over the knees was developed. These did the job of keeping their feet dry and mud free.

Because of their occupation as 'gum diggers', the boots specifically designed for their use became known as "Gum Boots". It wasn't long before the idea crossed the Tasman and this unique footwear became part of the culture of both nations.