Western Mining Corporation

Now bought out by BHP, WMC, Limited, founded in 1933, was the Australian holding company for a diversified group of mining enterprises that operated throughout the world. It was the world’s third-ranked nickel producer and one of Australia’s leading gold producers. It owned 40 percent of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, at the time the world’s largest producer of bauxite, alumina, and alumina-based chemicals. It produced substantial amounts of copper, uranium, and talc. The company’s headquarters and the majority of its operations were in Australia, but its subsidiaries undertook mining activities in at least 20 nations on every continent except Antarctica. WMC outlasted its regional neighbours and operated continuously in the goldfields, surrounding WASM for 70 yrs. The result was a legendary association, with mutual benefits to WMC and to WASM.