In 1924, the Dunlop Rubber Factories at Abbotsford and Montague in Melbourne decided to make Sandshoes (also called Tennis shoes and runners.) This was to compliment their Rubber Boots (Gum Boots) which were first manufactured in 1915.

By 1932, Dunlop was manufacturing in Australia 2 million pairs of footwear a year with about 50% being used as Sport shoes. In 1939, the now Famous & iconic Volley Sport Shoe was introduced; Adrian Quist, a famous tennis player of the time, who worked for Dunlop, saw the sole pattern on a boat shoe when he was in America for a tennis tournament. He convinced Dunlop to make Tennis Shoes with the same sole pattern. The shoe went from strength to strength and never looked back, becoming the favourite of all top tennis players for the next 40 years.

In 1950 as the Dunlop Footwear business expanded, the huge new factory at Bankstown NSW was in production and by 1954 was making more shoes and sporting shoes than any other factory in Australia, and employed over 1000 people by 1957.

In 1959, Dunlop Footwear brought in their first imports—300,000 pairs of Thongs and 16,000 pairs of PVC shoes. In 1965, Dunlop Rubber Co. diversified into separate divisions; the Dunlop Footwear Division in its own right became a stronger force in the Australian Footwear industry. Fastforward to 1977 when KT technology was introduced and the now icon product KT26 was born.

1978 to 1985 was a big era for Dunlop Footwear establishing the brand as the leading sports footwear brand in Australia—with big Volume sellers—KT26, Volley International, Supershot, Levi’s for Feet, Boards, Jogair, Jaws and many others.

In 1994, Dunlop Footwear amalgamated with Winestock Pro-Sport Brand to become Dunlop Pro-Sport operating out of Port Melbourne. In 1997 a new Division was formed; Dunlop Sport now operating out of Nth Melbourne. In 2004, Dunlop Sport Footwear became part of the Pacific Brands Footwear Group.

Dunlop Sports Footwear is established as one of the top brands in australia today and continues to have strong consumer recognition as best value for money coupled with a proud and fine heritage.