List of oldest companies in Australia

This list of oldest businesses and companies in Australia includes businesses, whether incorporated or organised in a different form (such as a partnership). However, the list excludes non-commercial associations and educational, governmental, or religious organisations. The list only includes businesses that still operate today under either the same name or a variant (such as a contraction or a part) of the original name, since inception.

Year  | Business or Company  | Field  | Sources

|
|
|

1808  | Summerville Farm  | Farm  | [1][2]
1815  | The Bush Inn, Tasmania | Australian pub |
1815  | Hope and Anchor Tavern | Australian pub  |
1815  | Macquarie Arms Hotel | Australian pub  |
1822  | Allens | Law  | [3][4][5][6]
1822  | Ratho Farm Golf Links | Farm  | [7]
1824  | Australian Agricultural Company | Farm  | [8]
1824  | Cascade Brewery | Brewing  | [9][10]
1825  | Van Diemen's Land Company | Farm  |
1827  | MinterEllison | Law  |
1828  | Fortune of War Hotel | Australian pub  |
1829  | Lionel Samson and Son | Merchant  | [11][12]
1831  | Webster Limited |  |
1833  | Clayton Utz | Law  |
1833  | Theatre Royal, Sydney |  |
1835  | ANZ Bank | Banking  |
1835  | Mountcastle & Sons | Hat manufacturer  | [13][14]
1836  | Houghton Wines | Winemaking  |
1837  | Fowler Potteries |  |
1837  | Swan Brewery | Brewing  |
1838  | David Jones | Retail  |
1839  | Elders |  |
1840  | Sandalford Wines | Winemaking  |
1841  | Ashurst Australia | Law  |
1841  | Lord Nelson Hotel, Millers Point | Australian pub  |
1843  | Hero of Waterloo Hotel | Australian pub  |
1843  | Lindeman's | Winemaking  |
1844  | Penfolds | Winemaking  |
1846  | The Courier-Mail | Newspaper  |
1846  | Insignia Financial |  |
1847  | Orlando Wines | Winemaking  |
1848  | BankSA | Banking  |
1849  | AMP | Finance  |
1849  | Harris Scarfe | Retail  |
1850  | Baxter Boots | Footwear  | [15]
1851  | John Sands |  |
1852  | Bosisto's | Eucalyptus oil |
1852  | Grand View Hotel | Australian pub  |
1852  | McKenzie's | Food  | [16]
1853  | Alcocks | Billiard Table Manufacturers  | [17]
1853  | Bates Smart |  |
1853  | Balfours | Bakery |
1853  | Crown & Anchor, Adelaide |  |
1853  | Dimmeys |  |
1854  | Anchor Foods |  |
1854  | Maldon Bakery | Bakery | [18]
1855  | CSR | Sugar refining  |
1855  | Wilmar Sugar Australia | Sugar refining  |
1857  | Old Canberra Inn | Australian pub  |
1858  | Backwell IXL  | Manufacturing  | [19][20]
1858  | Bendigo & Adelaide Bank | Building society |
1858  | Bendigo Pottery  |  | [21]
1858  | Fairfax & Roberts  | Jewellery  | [22]
1862  | Coopers Brewery | Brewing  |
1863  | ALS | Chemical manufacturing (as Campbell Brothers)  |
1863  | Bank of Queensland | Banking  |
1864  | Gundagai Bakery  | Bakery | [23]
1864  | Nindigully Pub | Australian pub  |
1864  | Saxbys Soft Drinks | Beverage manufacturing  |
1864  | J. Furphy & Sons | Manufacturing  | [24][25][26]
1865  | Arnott's Biscuits | Foodstuff manufacturing  |
1865  | Billson's Brewery | Brewing  |
1865  | Godfrey Hirst | Carpet manufacturing  | [27]
1865  | Kirks | Manufacturing  |
1866  | Best's Great Western | Winemaking  |
1865  | McMaster’s Pies  | Pie shop | [28]
1867  | William Inglis & Son |  |
1870  | Blundstone Footwear | Footwear  |
1870  | Ritchies Stores |  |
1872  | Donohue’s Quality Meats  | Butcher shop | [29]
1873  | Rio Tinto | Mining  |
1873  | The Riverine Grazier | Newspaper  |
1874  | Bickford's Australia | Beverage manufacturing  |
1875  | Gunns | Timber  | [30]
1875  | Brambles | Logistics  |
1875  | Heritage Bank | Banking  |
1876  | Victor Churchill | Butcher shop | [31]
1877  | Dahlsens Building Centres | Building  |
1877  | North Australian Pastoral Company | Pastoral  |
1877  | Schweppes Australia | Beverage manufacturing  |
1879  | Griffiths Brothers Teas | Tea and coffee  |
1879  | J. L .Lennard Pty. Ltd.  | Food, Packaging and Pharmaceutical Machinery Sales and Service  | [32]
1880  | IMB Bank | Banking  |
1882  | Adbri | Building products  |
1882  | Nerada Tea | Tea and coffee  |
1883  | Birdsall Leather |
1883  | Boag's Brewery | Brewing  |
1883  | Bushells | Tea and coffee  |
1883  | Raine & Horne | Real estate  | [33]
1883  | Earp Bros | Tiles and hardware  | [34]
1884  | Alexanders Cigar Merchants | Tobacco products  | [35]
1884  | Beenleigh Rum | Rum distilling  |
1885  | BHP | Mining  |
1885  | Doyles on the Beach | Fish and chip shop |
1886  | Cascade Beverages | Beverage manufacturing  |
1886  | Angove Family Winemakers | Winemaking  |
1886  | Bunnings | Timber, hardware  | [36]
1886  | QBE Insurance | Insurance  |
1887  | Oliver Boots | Footwear  | [37]
1887  | Willow Ware Australia | Tinware manufacturing  |
1888  | Bundaberg Rum | Rum distilling  |
1888  | Willie Smith's | Cider  |
1888  | James Hardie | Building products  |
1888  | Jumbuck Pastoral Company |  |
1888  | Noyes Brothers |  |
1888  | Toll | Haulage | [38]
1888  | Warrnambool Cheese and Butter | Dairy  | [39][40]
1889  | Blakistons |  |
1889  | Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard | Winemaking  |
1889  | Wormald International |  |
1890  | Kookaburra Sport |  |
1891  | Allen's | Confectionery manufacturing  |
1891  | IXL | Jam and conserve manufacturing  |
1892  | BCR Australia  | International Freight Forwarding  | [41]
1892  | Betts Group |  |
1892  | Sabco | Broom and brush manufacturer  |
1893  | Berts Soft Drinks | Beverage manufacturing  | [42]
1893  | Uncle Tobys | Food manufacturing  | [43]
1894  | EV2 Sportswear | Sportswear  | [44]
1894  | Stuart Alexander & Company |  |
1894  | Val Morgan | Advertising  |
1895  | Angus & Coote |  |
1895  | Australian Paper |  |
1895  | Bankwest | Banking  |
1897  | Akubra | Hat manufacturer  |
1897  | Hamodava |  |
1897  | Northcote Pottery |  | [45]
1898  | Cyclone Fence & Gate Company |  | [46]
1898  | Lowes Menswear | Clothing retail  |
1898  | Alderdice Brassfounders | Pump and valve manufacturing  | [47][48]
1898  | Driza-Bone | Outerwear  | [49]
1899  | Bega Cheese | Dairy  | [50]
1899  | Cairns Bank | Banking  |
1899  | River Port Beverages | Beverage manufacturing  | [51]
1899  | S Kidman & Company | Pastoral  |
1899  | UGL Rail |  |
1900  | Myer | Retail  |
1903  | Soul Patts | Retail Pharmacy chain; Investment company  | [52]
1906  | Winning Appliances | Retailer  |
1910  | Lucas' Papaw Ointment |  |
1910  | Rossi Boots | Footwear  |
1911  | Commonwealth Bank | Banking  |
1912  | Hutchinson Builders | Construction  |
1914  | Stadiums Limited | Events, Live Music, Promoting and Boxing  |
1914  | Wesfarmers | Retail  | [53][54]
1917  | Wallace Bishop | Retail  |
1917  | Sims Metal | Metal recycling  | [55]
1917  | Dawn Tools | Manufacturing  | [56]
1919  | Three Threes | Manufacturing  |
1920  | Qantas | Airline  |
1925  | Filmer Sceats | Eyewear manufacturing  |

## See also

[edit]

* Australia portal
* Companies portal

* List of oldest companies
* Companies by year of establishment

## References

[edit]

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2. ^ "Australia's Oldest Family Owned Company". Sadleirs. 24 July 2015. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
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4. ^ Cowper, Norman, Vivienne Parsons. "George Allen (1800–1877)". Allen, George (1800-1877). ADB. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
5. ^ "George Allen". Sydney's Aldermen. City of Sydney. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
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7. ^ https://rathofarm.com/golf-course-history/#:~:text=The Ratho Farm Golf Links,oldest remaining outside of Scotland. [bare URL]
8. ^ Campbell, D.; Brougham, J.; Caldwell, R. Uncovering and understanding Australia's First Railway (PDF). Australian Journal of Multi-disciplinary Engineering. Vol. 7, no. 2\. Newcastle, NSW: Engineering Heritage Australia. pp. 2–3\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
9. ^ McSmith, Andy (18 October 2007). "It's the craic that brings you back". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
10. ^ Starke, Andrew (1 November 2010). "Cascade gets a Makeover". The Shout. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
11. ^ Kohler, Alan (18 July 2013). "Australia's oldest family business". Business Spectator. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
12. ^ Mossenson, David. "Samson, Lionel (1799–1878)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
13. ^ "Slouch hats continued to be made in Australia". Parliament of Australia (Press release). 26 March 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
14. ^ "Messrs Mountcastle and Sons". 28 December 1895. p. 1. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
15. ^ "From Anzac army boots to planned Sydney CBD store, Baxter Boots keeps marching on". BRW. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2015.
16. ^ https://www.mckenziesfoods.com.au/
17. ^ "Alcocks | Alcocks Billiard Table Manufacturers - Since 1853". alcocks.com.au. 18 March 2020.
18. ^ https://www.maldonbakery.com.au/
19. ^ "IXL Group". www.ixl.com.au. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
20. ^ McLean, G.A. (13 May 2024), Historical data of Backwell IXL: a Geelong appliance, car component and foundry products manufacturer, Deakin University, doi:10.26187/deakin.25808398.v1, retrieved 19 February 2025
21. ^ https://www.bendigopottery.com.au/
22. ^ "Fairfax & Roberts jewellery CEO Georgina Brujic opens doors to change". Australian Financial Review. 26 November 2015.
23. ^ Visit NSW; Government of NSW. "Historic Gundagai Bakery - the oldest working bakery in Australia". visitnsw.com. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
24. ^ Chicob; J. Furphy & Sons (1919). Furphy's farm water carts and other specialities, made by J. Furphy & Sons, implement makers Shepparton, Victoria. Shepparton: The Shepparton News. Archived from the original (Includes "Lost in a Furphy", by Chicob, article reprinted from Sydney Mail, 29 September 1909) on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
25. ^ Linton, Darren; Shepparton Motor Museum. "A place for all things Furphy". Shepparton Motor Museum. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
26. ^ J. Furphy & Sons. "Good, better, best". The Furphy Story. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
27. ^ "Godfrey Hirst Carpets". www.godfreyhirst.com. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
28. ^ https://mcmasterspies.com/
29. ^ https://www.benallaensign.com.au/news/oldest-continually-operating-butcher-in-australia-might-be-in-benalla/
30. ^ "National City Co. Has Amalgamated with Associates". Border Cities Star. 19 February 1920. p. 5. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
31. ^ "Victor Churchill". Victor Churchill.
32. ^ "J.L.Lennard". jllennard.com.au/about-us. 2 April 2025.
33. ^ "About Raine & Horne - Raine & Horne Real Estate Brand". raineandhorne.com.au.
34. ^ McDonald, Andrew (12 November 2018). "Earp Bros celebrate 135 years and new showroom | Architecture & Design". INDESIGNLIVE. InDesign Media Asia Pacific. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
35. ^ https://www.cigars.com.au/
36. ^ "Our History". Bunnings.
37. ^ "Work & Safety Boots | Safety Footwear Solutions | Oliver Footwear". oliver.com.au.
38. ^ "History". Toll Holdings Limited. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
39. ^ Hopkins, Philip (28 May 2004). "New culture for former dairy co-op". The Age. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
40. ^ Ockenden, Will (4 May 2013). "Bega Cheese launches $319 million takover [sic] bid for Warrnambool Cheese and Butter". Australia: ABC. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
41. ^ Thirgood, Michael (20 October 2022). "BCR Celebrating 130 Years" (PDF). Across Borders Magazine. p. 55. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
42. ^ https://www.berts.com.au/
43. ^ "Our story". Uncle Tobys. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
44. ^ https://www.ev2sportswear.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOorxctchWgYKzG2RwlEMQ6RIjxvmCZm7VqFYaiJajnkKC1oRhPt-
45. ^ https://northcotepottery.com/
46. ^ "Our Story". Cyclone Tools.
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49. ^ Bone, Driza (2 May 2018). "About Driza-Bone". Driza-Bone. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
50. ^ "Bega Cheese Brief History". Bega Cheese. 14 October 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
51. ^ https://www.riverport.com.au/
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53. ^ Gosch, Elizabeth (3 July 2007). "Bumper harvest as farm stock keeps growing". The Australian. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
54. ^ Askew, Kate (3 July 2007). "From farm boy to history man". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
55. ^ "History of Sims Metal Management". simsmm.com. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
56. ^ "Dawn Tools". www.dawntools.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2025.