Buying Australian made from locally owned businesses is becoming more important to more Australians, according to research by Roy Morgan. And the good news is that iconic brand RM Williams is once again in Australian hands.

The Aussie ‘cattleman's’ brand was sold offshore in 2013 to a group that owns such French luxury brands as Louis Vuitton. Now, mining magnate and Australia's second-wealthiest person, Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest, and his wife Nicola Forrest, have bought the brand.

RM Williams, which has 63 stores across Australia plus one in New York and one in London, is based in Adelaide and was founded by bushman Reginald Murray Williams 88 years ago.

The Forrests own the Tattarang investment firm, which had been circling the bootmaker for close to a year.

South Australian premier Steven Marshall took to social media in the wake of the sale, describing it as “great news for local manufacturing and local jobs in SA”.

The boots are made in a factory in Salisbury, and most products are still made in Australia.

Only 1 or 2 per cent of RM Williams products were made offshore, said Tattarang chief investment officer John Hartman, but there are discussions to move manufacturing entirely back onshore.

Australia Made chief executive Ben Lazzaro said the coronavirus pandemic had created demand for goods that would support Australian jobs – despite the extra cost of buying Australian-made products.