Iron and Steel

First attempt to smelt

Mar 3, 1848

The first iron and steel smelting establishment was made near Mittagong,NSW. It was not economical and was closed by 1877.

Another attemmpt to smelt

Mar 3, 1873

Another attampt to start smelting was in 1873 in Victoria. This created the Victorian Mining Company, which later became known as Lal Lal Iron Mining Co.

Blast Furnace

Mar 3, 1875

A small blast furnace was made and operated into the 1880's. It was never an economic proposition, even after sending people to Britain to learn the technology it took 5 years to master the blast furnace.

Iron train wheels

Mar 3, 1878

Around this time blast furnaces were producing iron locamotive wheels.

BHP

Mar 3, 1885

In 1885 Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP) was established and Australia had its first major mining and steel production company.