Article from the Weekend Australian Financial Review, Octobert 8-9, 2011. explores the reasons why mining investment in Victoria is not an attractive proposition. Mining exploration stops at the Victorian border. Tom Goldsmith of PriceWaterhouseCoopers is quoted beside the headline 'Why the miners have Victoria' saying 'I think 20 years ago people stopped thinking that Victoria was open for business in this regard, so nobody really bothered looking. It takehs a long time to change that mindset'bendigo, mining, mining investment

Nina Steane was the daughter of Sydney Carroll. He was the son of John Whiteman and Alice Cornwall, born in Melbourne in 1877. After a short marriage his parents separated and he chose to live with his father. Alice resumed her maiden name and became successful in the Mining Industry in Ballarat. She owned the Midas Mine on the Dowling Forest Estate, Victoria. She was known as Madame Midas. Returning to London her business thrived and her company the 'British Australasian Mining Investment Company' was floated in London in July 1889. It is said she became a millionaire at 30. Sydney Carroll was born George Frederick Carl Whiteman (1877-1958). Sydney was heavily involved with the theatre and was manager of a number of London theatres. He founded the Open Air Theatre in 1933. A new complex was been built on the site in 1975. He was part-author of several plays, published a book on dramatic criticism as well as being a drama critic. Nina Steane (Carroll) was born in 1932 and studied Art at the Cheltenham School of Art. She then went to Oxford University where she studied Literature. After Oxford she married John M Steane and they had three children. They lived in Southport, Kettering where she exhibited her art until the mid 1970s. In 1976 John became Oxfordshire's County Archaeologist and so moved to live in the area. Here Nina showed her art as well as in London and other parts of the country as well as abroad Nina died in 1990, aged 57. .1 Type written letter on white paper. Addressed "Dear Sir" and signed "Nina Steane" (copy) .2 Type written letter on white paper. Addressed "Mrs Steane" and signed by "E J Barker" Principal of Ballarat School of Mines and later Director of Ballarat College of Advanced Education. (copy) .3 Type written letter on white paper. Addressed "Dear Mr Barker" and signed "Nina Steane" (copy) .4a Copy of hand written information on The Midas Mine .4b continuation of information.1 Signature of Nina Steane. Dated July 6th 1973 .2 Signature "EJB". Dated 20th July 1973 .3 Signature of Nina Steane. Dated July 26th 1973midas mine, nina steane, sydney carroll, alice cornwall, john whiteman, melbourne, madame midas, british australasian mining investment company, millionaire, london, drama, open air theatre, cheltenham school of art, oxford university, literature, john m steane, oxfordshire county, archaeologist, exhibition

Photograph of a wood engraving, showing a Large group of men in front of the Victoria Hotel and the Stock Exchange , Pall Mall, Sandhurst. The men are all formally dressed with long coats and top and bowler hats.topic, mining, investment, mining exchange, stock exchange, victoria hotel, pall mall

Alice Cornwall was known as Madam Midas.Alice Cornwell was one of the richest women in the world due to her success in gold mining around Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.Original photograph mounted on original blue/green card.W & S Ltd. Barraud 263 Oxford Street, London & 92 Bold Street, Liverpoolalice cornwall, madame midas, cornwall, mining, ballarat, british australasian mining investment company, midas gold mining company, women

Bendigo Advertiser article 14th March, 2000, , titled 'Miner settles dispute', describes the settlement of up to $2 million paid by Perseverance Gold Mine, Fosterville, to eleven 'disgruntled neighbours'. Managing Director, John Kelly, claims ' It's a huge disincentive to mining investment. We get all the proper permits, do the right thing and then get slugged with a million-dollar lawsuit'. gold mining, bendigo, fosterville, perseverance gold mine, john kelly

Document. Copy of page (p. 207) from ''Bendigo and Vicinity'' re the late William James - born Cornwall 1836 and prominent in early mining and investment in Bendigo. Mention of Dr Hugh Boyd; Mr W J James; Mr F D Jones.person, individual, william james, gold mining. dr hugh boyd. tambour major mine.

George Lansell was persuaded to begin investing in the newly forming mining companies of Bendigo, from 1855. His first investments failed, he lost money, and refocused on his original businesses. In 1865 George re-entered mining and with substantial investment was able to dictate the mining practices of his companies. His approach, of mining ever deeper than had been reached before, was so successful that he became known as the Quartz King of Bendigo. He soon became a millionaire. For a time, he may have been the richest man in the world. In 1871 Lansell purchased the Ballerstedt mines, equipment, machinery and mansion from the now deceased Christopher’s son, for 30,000 pounds. Although this was a large sum for the times, it demonstrated Lansell’s sound judgement: under his direction, the 180 Mine was extended down to over 3000 feet, becoming the deepest mine in the southern hemisphere at the time. By 1889, it was estimated that Ballerstadt and Lansell, over the time of the mine’s operation, had taken out at least a million pounds worth of gold from it. Mr. Lansell returned to England in about 1882 and took up his residence in Surrey, just across the river from London. There, when in his sixtieth year, he married Miss Edith Bassford, who was of English birth, but who was reared in Bendigo, where he first met her and her family. After a residence of seven years in Surrey Mr. Lansell and family returned to Bendigo, having been requested to do so by many leading citizens, who felt that it needed his presence and energy to keep mining in quartzopolis on the up grade. He was heartily welcomed by them on his return. Since then he has lived a quiet, uneventful life at his beautiful residence, "Fortuna." George Lansell travelled extensively, from the 1870’s, and extended his Fortuna Villa residence greatly, embellishing it as his fancy was inspired by his travels. Likewise it was filled with unusual items acquired on those travels. The surrounds did not miss out, being extensively landscaped and developed with features like ornamental lakes, a classical fountain, enclosed Roman style baths.Fortuna Articles - Photo of George Lansell's residence in England This item contains the following document: 11217.66a Black and white Photo Print of George Lansell's residence in England 10 x 8 inches, on rear of photo is written "George Lansell's Residence in England between 1881 and 1887 11217.66b Black and white Negative of George Lansell's residence in England 10 x 8 inches - Contact BHS for detailsnon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, edith lansell, edith bassford

This specimen is Cassiterite in Quartz. Cassiterite is a tin oxide metal that forms in thin crystals which can have a beautiful lustre. Quartz is made of silicon dioxide, also known as silica, and is one of the most common minerals on earth. Cassiterite has been a fundamental source of tin ore for humans throughout history, including today. Tin is an important metal that has a wide variety of human uses in different areas, from dying fabric, to making mirrors, and their most well-known use ‘tin’ cans. Tin cans are primarily made of steel and are coated with tin in order to take advantage of tin’s property of being non-corroding. This is a massive step in the history of food preservation. Tinned food first reached Australia in 1815 with early settlers, and it began to be manufactured here in the 1840s. It was incredibly popular, and was a highly exported product, which would be a contributing factor to the ‘tin mining boom’ of the early 1880s. This specimen was collected at Jingellic, New South Wales, in about 1852. Although the Goldfields of the 1800s are much more well-known, tin mines existed alongside the gold mines which began in the mid 19th century and extended almost one hundred years, to the mid 20th century. Specimens like this would have been used as evidence to justify tin mining operations in the region as an investment. This specimen is part of a larger collection of geological and mineral specimens collected from around Australia (and some parts of the world) and donated to the Burke Museum between 1868-1880. A large percentage of these specimens were collected in Victoria as part of the Geological Survey of Victoria that begun in 1852 (in response to the Gold Rush) to study and map the geology of Victoria. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. The Geological Survey of Victoria was headed by British geologist, Alfred Richard Cecil Selwyn (1824-1902), who was responsible for issuing over 60 geological maps during his 17 years as director. These maps were all hand-drawn and coloured and became the benchmark for accuracy for geological mapping. Collecting geological specimens was an important part of mapping and understanding the scientific makeup of the earth. Many of these specimens were sent to research and collecting organisations across Australia, including the Burke Museum, to educate and encourage further study. A fist-sized solid geological specimen made on one half of tin oxide, which is dark grey, and on the other side of silica, which is brown and cream.burke museum, beechworth, geological, geological specimen

This image is a reproduction of an 1899 original depicting the 'Williams Good Luck Mine' on the Mopoke Reef (also called 'Morepork Gully') in the Dingle Ranges, approximately three miles from Beechworth. A large opening to a mine can be seen behind the men in the photograph, with a wheeled cart on a track leading to the men's position, where the soil and rocks have been hauled away. This photograph interestingly contains dogs alongside the miners. While dogs have been recorded as deterrents to thieves in the Victorian goldfields, these dogs appear as companions to these men. Following the discovery of gold at Beechworth in 1852, rushes quickly followed at surrounding creeks and gullies in the district. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, small syndicates of miners continued to work old or abandoned quartz reefs, often persisting without the assistance of heavy machinery to remove the large amounts of rock, in order to obtain yields at ever greater depths. The group of miners in this photograph are Mr. Roger Williams and Sons, who revived operations at the ‘Old Good Luck’ mine on the Mopoke Reef in the Dingle Range near Beechworth around 1892, working the site for more than two decades. An emigrant from Cornwall with experience in the tin mining industry, 19 year old Roger Williams senior sailed to New Zealand in 1840, then to Australia where he spent time in the Bendigo Gold Fields before settling in Beechworth in the early 1860s. Mr Williams senior worked on various mining activities in the district, including the Rocky Mountain Tunnel project. Conversant with the character of gold-bearing reefs in the area, the syndicate dug an eight hundred foot tunnel, digging down as far down as two hundred feet with little capital save their labour, to connect and provide better working access to the mass of reefs and veins in the vicinity. Progress was hampered by poor air quality charged with fumes from dynamite and large quantities of rock had to be crushed to obtain payable yields. The Victorian Goldfields are filled with ruins and remnants of the area's rich mining history, ranging from small alluvial diggings to the remains of huge mining companies. Site names often changed several times throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some sites were abandoned and forgotten, others were worked continuously over many decades. The names of mines were often repeated at different locations throughout the Victorian Goldfields. For example, there is a Mopoke Gully heritage mine near Fryers Creek, Victoria. 'Mopoke' is a common onomatopoeic name for Morepork and Australian Boobook owls.This image has historical, social and research significance for patterns of emigration during of the Victorian Gold Rush, and the historical, social and environmental impacts of mining at Beechworth at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As gold became scarce and government support and large company investment waned, poor hard-working miners laboured intensively to make a living through periods of high unemployment. This image can be compared and studied alongside other historical mining photographs and objects in the Burke Museum Collection. It has potential to improve our understanding of miners working conditions and the shifting character of mining in the Beechworth district.Sepia coloured rectangular photograph printed on gloss photographic paper mounted on card. Obverse: Williams/ Good/ Luck Reverse: A02498/ 1997. 2498/ Good Luck/ Mine/ 1899/ Mopoke. burke museum, beechworth museum, beechworth, gold fields, gold rush, victorian gold rush, gold ming history, colonial australia, australian gold rushes, mining technology, beechworth historic district, indigo gold trail, migration, indigo shire, good luck gold mine, victorian goldfields, mining syndicates, gold fever, quartz-mining, small-scale mining, old good luck mine, mopoke gully, quartz reefs beechworth

Depicted in the photograph is Newtown Bridge or the Newtown Falls Bridge, in Beechworth, Victoria. Noted for its location, detailed craftsmanship and stonemasonry by Scottish stonemasons the Newtown Bridge was built in the 19th century provincial town of Beechworth (completed in 1875). The bridge was built over Spring Creek, spanning 6.3 meters wide and 24.8 meters tall. Beechworth held a distinct role in the administrative and commercial management of Victoria's north-eastern goldfields, with many objects and structures still well preserved from the towns establishment. The bridge indicates the growth of the town, replacing a previous timber structure as well as its association to the mining activity in the area and the rapid increase in Australia's economy that led to investment and development of roads and railways. The local granite used in the construction of the single arch Newtown Bridge makes the bridge and other buildings made with the granite unique to the area, the honey-toned material distinct to Beechworth. This photograph is historically significant as it provides insight into the industrial development of Beechworth and the surrounding area, contributed to by the goldfields. The photograph further captures the representation of vernacular engineering traditions and Scottish stonemasonry.Two sepia-toned rectangular photographs featuring a bridge in the background printed on matte photographic paper mounted on card.Reverse: 97.2324/ Newtown Bridge/ Beechworthbridge, newtown beechworth, newtown bridge, newtown, beechworth, beechworth falls bridge, beechworth mining district, spring creek,

Thomas Dicker, Rowan Street, Bendigo, published a monthly mining journal that included geological information, mine details and mining practises for particular mining districts. In 1868/9, Dicker moved to England to open the "Australian and London Mining Agency" with the goals of promoting investment in Victorian mines, entering Victorian mining shares on the London Stock market, and exploring the latest in mining technology that might be suitable for mining in Victoria.Dicker's Mining Record and guide to the gold mines of Victoria, showing the bearings, depths, thickness, dips and underlies of the auriferous lodes; the progress and cost of works in operation; containing also a variety of valuable interesting and statistical information. Published by the proprietor, Thomas Dicker, Rowan Street Sandhurst. A green with black spine hardcover book. Paper glued on the front with the title Dicker's Mining Journal 1862. On the spine in gold lettering Dicker's Mining Record Vol.1 1861-2. The book contains 12 issues of the Dicker's Mining Record, the first from Saturday, November 23, 1861: the last from October 24, 1862. Also, there are two pieces of paper inside front cover with writing in pencil; the first says: shaft originally No.3 shaft of the speedwell coy. in 1902 the North Normanby Coy. was formed and took over the shaft. A new winding engine was installed in 1909. 10 head battery 1905, extra 20 head in 1909. The second, also in pencil, reads: Dept. of Mines Geological survey No.4 Ballarat East goldfields - 1907 - Mr. Marbrey (?) 39 Shamrock St. Bendigo.Sticker on inside front page: Ballarat Historical Museum presented by Mr. W.H. Lewis Young Street. On second page in pencil: Mr. John N Bailey mining manager of John Woods mines Stawell, Sons of Freedom Beaufort (illegible). To Mr. John Bailey as a mark of esteem grom J. Logan.dicker's mining journal, 1862, mining

'Bendigo keeps the old dream alive' Australian newspaper, 9 July 2007. Photo on top of article shows Rod Hanson inside the Kangaroo Flat gold mine entry to the Swan decline. Article discusses the consequences of Bendigo Mining over estimating the recovery of its gold grades. Cash reserves, investment and future possibilities are explored by Rod Hanson in the context of the poorer than expected results. bendigo mining n.l., bendigo, mining, gold, douglas buerger, mine opening, rod hanson, garden gully reef, sheepshead reef, deborah reef, grenfell reef, portal, swan decline

'Record gold output at Kangaroo Flat' Bendigo Advertiser, Financial Update, 21 November, 2009. On top of article, photo of Mr. Rod Hanson addressing shareholders at the Bendigo Mining annual general meeting. Mr. Hanson discussed the positive exploration results at the Henty Mine. 'Global financial volatility had helped keep the price of gold up as people turn to the metal as an investment haven.'bendigo mining n.l., bendigo, mining, gold, rod hanson, portal, swan decline, henty mine, gold price, shareholders, annual general meeting

George Lansell was born in Kent, England, on August 24, 1823. Inspired by his brother Wootton's reports of opportunities, George and his brother William arrived in Port Adelaide in 1853 and moved to Bendigo to seek fortune in gold mining. Lansell initially lost all his savings twice investing in gold mining. His fortunes changed in the early 1860s after successful investments in the Advance and Cinderella mines, laying the foundation for his wealth. He acquired the property Fortuna in 1871. He Married Bedelia Javis, an Irish immigrant, in 1872; she died eight years later at age 38. Despite being the area's most successful mine owner, Lansell faced hostility from miners and left for Britain in 1880 after a threatening incident. He returned to Bendigo after a petition from thousands of residents, contributing significantly to the city's revival. He donated much of his fortune to charities, public buildings, and monuments, including the Rosalind Park Cascades. He died on March 20, 1906, at age 82. His death marked the end of Bendigo's golden era; the goldfields' output declined sharply within a decade.Fortuna Restoration Article - "Quartz King's uneasy reign" - The Herald Sun Sunday Nov 02 1997- Author Adrian Tame This item contains the following: 11217.8a Black and White Photo of George Lansell 11217.8b Part of page 15 - Quartz King's uneasy reignnon-fictionbendigo, fortuna, stan budds, george lansell

This document proposes the creation of a documentary about George Lansell, known as the "Quartz King" of Bendigo, highlighting his significant impact on the region's goldfields and community. Suggests strong support for a film documenting George Lansell's life, backed by local council, historical society, and parliamentary representatives. Recommends submitting the idea to organizations like Film Australia. Lansell was a prominent mining magnate with private ownership of multiple mines and investments in Australia and abroad. He was known for his immense wealth, generosity, and contributions to Bendigo's prosperity. His mansion, Fortuna, was one of the most lavish in the colony. The Big 180 mine, owned by Lansell, was the deepest in the Southern Hemisphere by 1895 and yielded significant gold output. Lansell and his partners extracted an estimated three million pounds worth of gold from the Big 180. Lansell was celebrated for his philanthropy, supporting public institutions, charities, and miners in need. Upon his death in 1906, he left shares in his mines to employees and set up a trust fund for widows and orphans of Bendigo miners. The document emphasizes the rich historical material available for a documentary, drawing from local archives and historical accounts.Fortuna Article - "Long lives the king" Bendigo Miner 13 Sept 2007 by Max Thomson This item contains the following: 11217.32a Colour Photo of Mining Man Statue: the "Quartz King, Geoge Lansell 11217.32b Part of Page 10 - Article "Long lives the king"non-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, quartz king, big 180 mine

David Lanyon undertook many aspects of mining progressing to become the underground boss of the New Chum United Mine. In 1894 he became a member of the Bendigo Stock exchange and a successful speculator. He then moved into a new home, "Raelwa" in Beech St., GoldenSquare. This substantial home was designed by architect, Mr William Beebe10563.3a David & Augusta Lanyon outside their (Miner's Cottage) home in Ophir Street, Bendigo. Later after his success with investments he built a home in Beech Street which he named "Reawla" after his village in Cornwall. 10563.3b photocopy of Mr. David Lanyon, who made a fortune speculating ion the Bendigo Mines From undated photographsdavid lanyon, reawla, miner's cottage

Kralcopic Pty Ltd, was a subsidiary of Bendigo-based company GBM Gold and had previously held mining licences around Bendigo, which incorporated sites including Kangaroo Flat, New Moon, Eaglehawk and the associated Woodvale Evaporation Ponds Complex. In August 2019, the Earth Resources Regulator decided not to renew Kralcopic’s three mining licences, due to the company’s inability to provide surety that it could finance its mining activities and site rehabilitation obligations. In October 2020, the company filed legal proceedings in the Supreme Court challenging the decision not to renew these licences. The Supreme Court later upheld the regulator’s decision not to renew the licences. On 23 April 2021, the Federal Court of Australia appointed KPMG as Kralcopic’s liquidators. On 14 May 2021, the liquidator lodged papers with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) to disclaim Kralcopic’s freehold land at Woodvale and parcels of land around the company’s former Bendigo sites, with the land to subsequently become Crown land. The Earth Resources Regulator has put a statutory exemption in place to preclude new mining licence applications on the sites while we undertake rehabilitation. The exemption also provides an opportunity for government to consider future uses of the sites in consultation with the City of Greater Bendigo and the local community. The Earth Resources Regulator holds rehabilitation bonds totalling $5.9 million, which it will use to rehabilitate the former sites.Colour photocopy of original photo. Image shows Catherine Reef South shaft with rectangular concrete capping. Ventilation pipe in concrete capping. On back in pencil: Catherine Reef South shaft with cap - Kralcopicwestern mining corporation, goldmining, capping, shaft, mining regulations, williams united shaft, kralcopic

Typed notes describing the burning of the Beehive in 1871 'memories of Miss Lucy Hill' The Beehive contained a store and the Beehive Chambers where about 40 or 50 offices of the legal managers of the mining companies, and stock and sharebrokers had their offices. It also caused chaos with investments. Two copiesdocument, lucy hill collection, the burning of the beehive, beehive chambers, messrs buick & co, messrs moore bros, coliban scheme

Typed notes on The Western Mining Group. Includes introduction, the History of W. M. C., WMC Today, WMC and Gold and a list of shareholders with a direct interest in Western Mining Corporation Holdings Limited. It includes a paragraph on the possibility of mining Bendigo again.document, gold, mining reports, the western minng group, anz nominees limited, national nominees limited, australian mutual provident society, bank of new south wales nominees p l, ctb nominees limited, w s robinson, gold mines of australia limited, western mining corporation limited, gold exploration and finance company of australia limited, gold mines of kalgoorlie limited, phoenix mine (norseman), mararoa mine (norseman), dr hugh mckinstry, central norseman gold corporation n l, g lindesay clark, alcoa of australia limited, three springs talc pty ltd, geraldton operations joint venture, kambalda nickel operations, kwinana nickel refinery, kalgorlie nickel smelter, windarra nickel project, great boulder mines limited, hill 50 gold mine n l, b h south limited, queensland phosphate limited, vatakoula joint venture, emperor gold mines limited (fiji), westminer investments pty ltd, western mining corporation holdings limited, australian stock exchanges, london stock exchange, great boulder holdings, mt magnet, olympic dam project, kingston lignite project, yeelirrie uranium joint venture, fimiston mines, lancefield mine, kambalda (old red hill gold mine), emu goldfield, stawell mines, underground exploration of bendigo, hi-fert pty ltd, homestake god ltd, urangesellschaft australia pty lrd, bp australia limited

Documents: 7 sheets of paper describing sale of shares in one lot, and one sheet in another. Letterhead ' Hiskens & Leonard, stock share and investment brokers, 99 Queen Street Melbourne'. Sold as agent for Deborah GM NL, Messrs McCall, Rankin and Stanistreet. Includes letter from stock and share investment brokers.Hiskens & Leonardorganization, mining, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet, mccoll, rankin and stanistreet: deborah gold mines nl, shares, stock market, bendigo, mining

McColl Rankin & Stanistreet, Deborah Extended Gold Mines NL, Solomon's PTY LTD & Others, Fraenkel & Kiven, Solicitors. Option Agreement 20/11/1970. Claims Nos. 2700, 2701 & 2702, holder of share Harold Boucher. Markings/Inscriptions of: Solomon's PTY LTD, Director ?? Secretary R A Jobson. Fearnly Investments PTY LTD, ? ? Director, ?? Secretary. Signed Sealed and Delivered by the said Douglas Graeme Williams, D Graeme Williams, ? ? ,Deborah extended Gold Mining Co NL C MacNeice Director, ? ? ? Director.organization, business, mine, mccoll rankin & stanistreet, deborah extended gold mines nl solomon's pty ltd fraenkel & kiven 1970 mineral claims 2700 2701 2702

Document. Dark green cardboard with black binding. Minutes from 25 March 1938 to 6 December 1946. List of investments in rear.McColl, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, central nell gwynne, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, central nell gwynne gmc n l, gold mining, minutes

non-fictionFor 25 years of his working life he worked as a Shire Engineer in West Gippsland and developed a reputation for competence and efficiency. Passionate about both trees and golf, he was a careful and measured man with an entrepreneurial spirit who worked behind the scenes He was seen by many as aloof and a hard man and by the very few who became close to him, as warm and fun loving and fond of children. Ross formed a business association with Wally Lawson in Warragul and together they embarked on a number of projects to advance the town and the district. As a young man, Ross had studied geology and working with quarries was familiar to him in his role as a Shire Engineer. In 1959 he established Bayview Quarries in partnership with Wally Lawson. When, in 1968, Bayview Quarries was taken over by Boral Ltd., Ross approached Tom Maw who had an operational quarry at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula. Ross and Maw became partners in what became Hillview Quarries. Ross also became the largest individual shareholder in Western Mining. Those shares formed the major part of the legacy he left to establish The R. E. Ross Trust and The Trust now operates on its income from assets acquired following the disposal of the Western Mining shares and from the earnings of Hilhnew Quarries. It is the only trust in Australia which owns a quarry as one of its investments.engineering, philanthropy, quarryman, investor, r.e. ross trust, hillview quarries, wally lawson, roy everard ross

Digital PDF Filenon-fictionIn January 2008 Akzo Nobel chief Hans Wijers triumphantly signed the US$19.2 billion deal (€11.6 billion) that would seal the end of the 81-year-old Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Sixteen years later, ICI’s one-time subsidiary Orica marches on, transforming itself again from its explosives base to a global mining services giant employing 12,500 people, serving customers in over a hundred countries, with more than 62 per cent of sales outside Australia and Asia. Explosives remain the company’s core, accounting for more than 75 per cent of revenues, with copper and gold making up 45 per cent of output. Not bad for a company governed by a strict covenant, with its parent detailing what products could be sold into what market. The covenant laid down what products could be imported and exported and what investments could be made, although Philip Weickhardt, the last ICI Australia chief executive, admitted he had never seen a copy of the document. It was the preserve of the company’s lawyers, and something referred to in passing. In any case, in 1997 when he took over, Weickhardt’s task as to lead the company to independence after 123 years of foreign rule. Negotiations, he said, were very pragmatic because Australia wanted to be on its own and ICI wanted to get out. The covenant was no longer something even the lawyers needed to know about. ICI ultimately failed because of a corporate model that tried to serve too many different products and markets. Orica has stuck to its core, while over the years learning and benefiting from the strengths of its former parentorica, deer park, ici