BHP, founded in 1885 as the Broken Hill Proprietary Company, evolved from a single silver-lead-zinc mine into one of the world's largest diversified resource companies, with pivotal milestones including steel production, international expansion, and the Billiton merger.
Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) is formed to mine silver, lead, and zinc at Broken Hill, New South Wales. The company's name reflects its founding purpose.
BHP ships its first ore from Broken Hill, beginning production from the rich silver-lead-zinc deposit.
BHP acquires the Zinc Corporation to expand its lead and zinc operations, consolidating control over Broken Hill minerals.
BHP opens its first integrated steelworks in Newcastle, New South Wales, marking entry into steel production. This becomes a cornerstone of Australian industrial development.
BHP announces plans for a steelworks at Whyalla, South Australia, to utilize iron ore from the Middleback Ranges.
BHP starts exploring for oil in Australia, diversifying beyond mining and steel.
Essington Lewis is appointed chairman of BHP. He drives expansion and modernisation, including steel production for WWII.
BHP begins mining iron ore at Yampi Sound in Western Australia to supply its steelworks.
BHP announces a major post-war expansion plan, increasing steel capacity and moving into new resources.
BHP discovers oil in Papua New Guinea, leading to first commercial oil production for the company in the 1960s.
BHP (with Esso) discovers major oil and gas fields in Bass Strait, transforming Australia's energy sector.
The Whyalla steelworks officially opens, becoming a key source of steel for Australian railways and construction.
BHP acquires Utah Development, gaining major coal assets in Queensland and expanding into international mining.
BHP restructures its steel division into BHP Steel to focus on integrated steel production and exports.
BHP Petroleum is formalized as a separate division, consolidating oil and gas operations globally.
BHP acquires Magma Copper Company, expanding into copper mining in the United States.
BHP opens the Mt Keith nickel mine in Western Australia, becoming a major nickel producer.
BHP acquires Canadian mining company Westmin Resources for its base metals assets.
BHP spins off its long-products steel business as OneSteel (later Arrium), focusing on high-grade steel and mining.
BHP announces a merger with Billiton plc, creating BHP Billiton, the world's largest diversified resource company.
The merger of BHP and Billiton is completed, creating a dual-listed company with headquarters in Melbourne and London.
BHP Billiton acquires WMC Resources, gaining the Olympic Dam copper-uranium-gold mine in South Australia.
BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto agree to explore a joint venture for their Western Australian iron ore operations, but later abandoned.
BHP Billiton makes an unsuccessful takeover bid for Rio Tinto, valued at $170 billion, blocked by regulators and market conditions.
The global financial crisis leads to a sharp drop in commodity prices, forcing BHP Billiton to cut production and defer projects.
BHP Billiton acquires Petrohawk Energy, a US shale gas producer, for $12.1 billion to expand in onshore US energy.
BHP Billiton announces the spin-off of its non-core assets into a new company, South32, focusing on coal, aluminium, manganese, and nickel.
South32 begins trading as a separate company after the demerger from BHP Billiton.
A tailings dam at the Samarco mine (owned by BHP Billiton and Vale) collapses, killing 19 people and causing massive environmental damage. BHP faces legal and financial repercussions.
BHP Billiton agrees to sell its US onshore oil and gas assets to BP for $10.5 billion, exiting the shale business.
BHP Billiton unifies its dual-listed structure into a single Australian-domiciled company, simplifying governance.
BHP declares it will exit thermal coal mining over time, aligning with climate change goals.
BHP sells its one-third stake in the Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia to Glencore, as part of its thermal coal exit.
BHP agrees to merge its petroleum business with Woodside Petroleum, creating a top-10 global energy company.
The merger of BHP's petroleum assets with Woodside is completed, forming Woodside Energy Group. BHP retains 48% stake initially.
BHP announces the acquisition of Oz Minerals, a copper and nickel miner, for $9.6 billion, strengthening its copper portfolio.
BHP finalizes the acquisition of Oz Minerals, gaining the Prominent Hill and Carrapateena copper-gold mines in South Australia.
BHP agrees to a $5 billion settlement with Brazilian authorities for the 2015 Samarco dam disaster, covering compensation and remediation.
BHP makes a $39 billion takeover bid for Anglo American, but is rejected. The bid signals BHP's push for copper dominance.
BHP withdraws its takeover offer for Anglo American after failing to reach agreement.
BHP invests in its Jansen potash project in Canada and expands copper operations in Chile and South Australia, focusing on future-facing commodities.