Summary

Registered in Melbourne in 1928 as Imperial Chemical Industries (Australasia) Ltd, the company changed it's name to Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia & New Zealand Limited in 1929.

Originally a wholly owned subsidiary of Imperial Chemical Holdings Ltd which was formed in the United Kingdom in 1926 following the merger of Brunner Mend & Co Ltd, Nobel Industries Ltd, United Alkali Co Ltd and British Dyestuffs Corporation Ltd. Control of the Australian representatives of the company was vested in ICI Ltd and as a consequence the Australian subsidiary was established to acquire and combine the local businesses of the merged entities.

Details

In 1928 Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand (ICIANZ) was incorporated to acquire and co-ordinate all Australasian interests of Imperial Chemical Industries PLC. In 1971 the company became ICI Australia.
The company had originated in 1874 when Jones, Scott and Co began making explosives at Deer Park in Victoria. The company was later bought by Nobel, which went on to merge with Brunner Mond and Co, United Alkali Company and British Dyestuffs Corporation to form Imperial Chemical Industries PLC.
In 1986 ICI Australia acquired 100% of Dulux Australia. It acquired full control of ICI New Zealand Ltd in 1989. In July 1997, ICI Australia became an independent Australasian company after its parent company, Imperial Chemical Industries PLC, divested its 62.4 per cent shareholding in the company. As a result of the sell down ICI Australia was required to change its name and on 2 February 1998, it became Orica.
Orica is a publicly owned Australian chemical company employing around 9,000 staff across approximately 30 countries and with revenue of $A4 billion annually.
It manufacturers and supplies industrial and specialty chemicals, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, commercial explosives and mining chemicals, paints and other consumer products sold under brands such as Dulux, Selleys and Cabot's. It is the largest chemical company in the region and the world's leading supplier of commercial explosives.

Archival resources

Adolph Basser Library, Canberra (CLOSED)

• ICI records, 1932 - 1955; Adolph Basser Library, Canberra (CLOSED). Details

Orica Ltd

• Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia & New Zealand Limitedrecords; Orica Ltd. Details