Lysaght was founded in 1880 by John Lysaght as a subsidiary to the company
John Lysaght and Co. The company pioneered modern
steel
Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...
coating technologies (
galvanization
Galvanization ( also spelled galvanisation) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are coated by submerging them in a bath of ...
). Its coated steel building products were sold under the 'ORB' brand and contributed to
Australian architectural style.
History

In 1857
John Lysaght and Co. was established in England at the
St Vincent's Works
The St Vincent's Works is a former factory and offices at Silverthorne Lane in Bristol, England.
The building was built as offices and factory by Thomas Royse Lysaght, for his brother John Lysaght of John Lysaght and Co. with the buildings bein ...
in
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
and commenced manufacturing
corrugated iron
Corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) or steel, colloquially corrugated iron (near universal), wriggly tin (taken from UK military slang), pailing (in Caribbean English), corrugated sheet metal (in North America), zinc (in Cyprus and Nigeria) or ...
. The firm exported to many countries including Australia and South America. By 1880 Lysaghts was exporting enough corrugated iron to Australia to establish a central selling agency in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
.
[An Australian Icon]
Lysaght Utilizing this demand, John Lysaght set up ''Victoria Galvanised Iron and Wire Company'' in order to get around import restrictions.
In 1897 the company publication, the ''Lysaght Referee'', detailed the products Lysaghts sold. The original Lysaght brand of corrugated iron was ''Orb'', followed in 1897 by a cheaper version of ''Redcliffe''. Both brands were exported in large quantities to Australia. ''Globe'' was a brand produced for American and African markets but some quantities ended up in Australia.
[
Galvanized sheet and plate was also made, between 1893 and 1912, at the Eskbank steelworks in Lithgow, by a competitor.] The brand was ''Eskbank'' and the sheets were corrugated for roofing. The galvanizing plant was primitive but produced a good quality product, albeit in small quantities. In 1905, negotiations
Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more parties to resolve points of difference, gain an advantage for an individual or Collective bargaining, collective, or craft outcomes to satisfy various interests. The parties aspire to agree on m ...
took place with William Sandford
William Sandford (26 September 1841 – 29 May 1932) was an English-Australian ironmaster, who is widely regarded as the father of the modern iron and steel industry in Australia.
Early life in England
Sandford was born at Torrington, De ...
for John Lysaght to take a share in the Eskbank works; but this did not progress. The Eskbank works was taken over by G & C Hoskins in 1908. Hoskins would be an erstwhile small-scale competitor with Lysaght.
In 1918 John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd was incorporated with the head office transferred from Melbourne to Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
. In 1921 a sheet rolling and galvanising works was established next to BHP
BHP Group Limited, founded as the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, is an Australian multinational mining and metals corporation. BHP was established in August 1885 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria.
As of 2024, BHP was the world� ...
in Newcastle
Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...
. In 1936, the sheet mill and galvanising works of Australian Iron & Steel
Australian Iron & Steel was an Australian iron and steel manufacturer.
History
Public company (1928-1935)
Australian Iron & Steel (AI&S) was established in 1928 to take over the business of Hoskins Iron & Steel. That company had already comme ...
at Port Kembla
A port is a maritime law, maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge Affreightment, cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inla ...
was purchased. In 1939, in a joint venture with American Rolling Mills, the Commonwealth Rolling Mills was opened in Port Kembla. In 1947, Lysaght bought the American Rolling Mills share.[John Lysaght Australia, Springhill Works](_blank)
Illawarra Heritage Trail
From 1942 to 1944, during World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Lysaght’s Works manufactured the Owen gun
The Owen gun, known officially as the Owen machine carbine, was an Australian submachine gun that was designed by Evelyn Owen in 1938. The Owen was the only entirely Australian-designed and constructed service submachine gun of World War II. It ...
, producing 45,000 units for the Australian Army
The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia. It is a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army ...
. The gun was designed by Evelyn Owen
Evelyn Ernest Owen (15 May 1915 – 1 April 1949) was an Australian who developed the Owen gun, which was used by the Australian Army in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.
Early life
Evelyn Owen was born on 15 May 1915 in Wo ...
and introduced to Lysaght by his neighbour Vincent Wardell
Vincent Andrew Wardell (1903–1990) was an Australian businessman, manufacturer and company director. In 1939 he was appointed assistant manager at Lysaght's steel works in Port Kembla, New South Wales and by 1944 was both its manager and one of ...
. The gun, which survived tough conditions, was highly popular with Australian soldiers, who gave it the affectionate nickname of " Digger's Darling".
In 1961 Lysaght became a public company with 20% of the shares sold to the public. In 1969 BHP
BHP Group Limited, founded as the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, is an Australian multinational mining and metals corporation. BHP was established in August 1885 and is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria.
As of 2024, BHP was the world� ...
purchased a 24% shareholding. In 1970, BHP and GKN took over the business each owing 50%. In 1971 Lysaght acquired the steel building products division of Brownbuilt and renamed it Lysaght Brownbuilt Industries. In 1979 it became a 100% subsidiary of BHP. Between 1987 and 1999 it was rebranded several times to Lysaght Building Industries, Lysaght Building Products, BHP Building Products, and BHP Steel Lysaght.[
In 2002 BHP Steel was listed on the ]Australian Securities Exchange
Australian Securities Exchange Ltd (ASX) is an Australian public company that operates Australia's primary Exchange (organized market), securities exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange (sometimes referred to outside of Australia as, or c ...
, later being rebranded BlueScope
BlueScope Steel Limited is an Australian flat product steel producer that was spun-off from BHP Billiton in 2002.
History
BlueScope was formed when BHP Billiton spun-off its steel assets on 15 July 2002 as BHP Steel. It was renamed BlueS ...
. Lysaght was again rebranded as BlueScope Lysaght.BlueScope Lysaght
Architecture & Design 19 November 2013 In 2013 it resumed trading as Lysaght.[
]
See also
* 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 ...
References
{{GKN
BHP
Manufacturing companies established in 1880
Steel companies of Australia
Australian companies established in 1880