Registered in 1912, the Federated Felt Hatting Employees' Union of Australasia and its predecessors flourished from the nineteenth century up until midway through the twentieth century in what was a protected domestic industry. It re-registered as the Federated Felt Hatting & Allied Trade Employees' Union of Australia in 1950. The industry, and consequently, the union began to wane before the multiple onslaught of mechanisation, imports, and fashion. In 1984 it amalgamated with the Australian Textile Workers' Union and in 1987 became the Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia after another amalgamation, this time with the Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation. By 1992, this union had merged with the Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia to form the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

The Federated Felt Hatting and Allied Trade Employees' Union of Australia re-registered in 1950. Its predecessor, the Federated Felt Hatting Employees' Union of Australasia, registered in 1912 and its predecessors flourished from the nineteenth century up until midway through the twentieth century in what was a protected domestic industry. After 1950 the industry, and consequently, the union began to wane before the multiple onslaught of mechanisation, imports, and fashion. In 1984, it amalgamated with the Australian Textile Workers' Union and in 1987 became the Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers' Union of Australia after another amalgamation, this time with the Australian Boot Trade Employees' Federation. By 1992 this union had merged with the Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia to form the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.

The New South Wales Association of Felt Hatters was formed in 1902. In May 1912 it became the No 1 Division of the New South Wales Branch of the Federated Felt Hatting Employees’ Union of Australasia. It was registered under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act on 29 June 1912. A separate union, consisting of Trimmers and Binders, formed in 1909, became the No 2 Division. The Assistants were organised in June 1912 to form the No 3 Division. The No 1A Division was formed in 1949. The name of the Union was changed in March 1950 to the Federated Felt Hatting and Allied Trade Employees Union of Australia. It amalgamated with the Australian Textile Workers Union in 1984, which in 1987 amalgamated with the Australian Boot Trade Employees Federation to form the Amalgamated Footwear and Textile Workers Union of Australia. A further amalgamation was completed in 1992 with the Clothing and Allied Trades Union of Australia which formed the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia.