In 1891, GEORGE EDWARD BATES was born in Hog Bay River, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Research finds George Bates in Western Australia with his trade being a saddler in 1907. No mention has been made as to where he did his apprenticeship.

 

In the Newspapers & Gazettes Perth, 1915 a report was published on “Saddle Employees”.

Mr Bates was quoted as saying:

 "George Bates, a riding saddle maker of eight years' experiences said he had earned £3 per week on piecework in South Australia and when on timework not less than 1s. 3d.  per hour. He had become disgusted with conditions in the trade and had left his employment as a saddle maker last week, and was now an engine fireman earning far better wages. The work was more laborious but not nearly so skilful as saddle-making."

 

Therefore it can be deduced that Bates possibly left his position of fireman, so returned to being employed in the saddlery trade only to be dismissed because of the depression.

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As per a quotation from the Kohler article in The Australian 2013, George Bates started the business in 1932 after he was sacked during the Great Depression from his job as saddler, by borrowing £100 from his sister and buying an industrial leather sewing machine.

He ran up the saddles on his sister's front porch and as soon as his son Donald could remain upright on a bicycle, he delivered them by bike. Apparently Don’s record was five saddles at once.

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In 1934 a company was formed under the banner of Bates Saddles of Perth.

The company remains today in the form of Bates Australia, parent company to Bates Saddles and Wintec. [Footnote: Bates claims to be the largest saddle company in the world (thanks to its Wintec brand), with all marketing out of Perth, but manufacturing moved to Vietnam in 1999. The Kohler article adds that third generation Ron Bates says “that if he had kept manufacturing in Australia, the business would have been wiped out by the exchange rate long ago.”

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George Bates died at Nedlands WA, in 1983.