Steel has played an important role in Australia’s history and its legacy can be seen in some of our most famous landmarks. Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and the MCG are all constructed from steel and it continues to be a favoured material in the building and construction industry.

Steel is a versatile and durable material with very high tensile strength, making it ideal for commercial, residential and industrial purposes. But have you ever wondered how we got to this point?

In this blog, we take a look at the history of steel manufacturing in Australia.

Let’s dive in.

Discovery of Iron Ore In Australia

Steelmaking in Australia began just a decade prior to the start of the 1851 Gold Rush whilst Australia was still divided into colonies.

Iron ore deposits were discovered in 1840 at Iron Knob, South Australia but a lack of equipment meant that the process of producing steel was impossible. Even attempts at smelting the iron ore in a blast furnace to create pig iron were unsuccessful due to the poor quality of iron ore and coke available to the budding industry.

In the other colonies at the time, such as Victoria, Tasmania, and New South Wales, there were minor discoveries of iron ore but poor technical expertise and limited quantity meant that the quality of steel was poor. Compared to the far superior steel being imported from Britain at the time, the steel manufacturing industry simply couldn’t compete and was unviable. By the 1870s, almost all steel production in Australia had been abandoned.

Steel Makes A Comeback

The situation began to change at the turn of the century. Rapid growth sparked higher demand for industrial machinery made from steel and infrastructure such as rail. It became apparent that there was a need for locally manufactured steel and soon there would be an answer.

In 1901, the year Australia united into a federation, the nation’s first blast furnace went into production at Eskbank near Lithgow in New South Wales. The development was spearheaded by William Stafford and his son Esk, and Statford is known as the father of Australian steel production.

In 1915, production expanded with another steel mill in Newcastle that was opened by BHP. It sourced coke from local mines and iron ore from South Australia, creating a domestic loop for steel manufacturing. In the following years, more steelworks opened in Whyalla, South Australia and Port Kembla in NSW. Steel manufacturing in Australia was now underway.

Shift To Offshore Manufacturing

After many successful years of steel manufacturing, many steel structures had now been being constructed country, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1923.

But by the 1980s, shifting winds had started to blow the wind out of the furnace. Many manufacturing industries were beginning to move overseas to China and South East Asia where they could build high-quality goods at cheaper costs and steel was one of the industries to get caught up.

Manufacturers were forced to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the steel industry to make it more ecologically sustainable. After sharp criticism over the practices of steel producers and the harmful by-products that came with it, the industry sought new approaches and technologies that would let these waste materials be reused.

The Modern Age Of Steel

The landscape of steel manufacturing in Australia is firmly established as a mix of off-shore manufacturing with processing and fabrication completed in Australia.

The transformation of the industry includes a major objective to become more streamlined and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Steel is the most recycled product in the world and Australia’s network of manufacturers and recycling facilities play a major part in the global industry.

Steel has become part of the fabric of Australia, both in its buildings and its community. Through structures, machinery, tools and many more steel goods, Australia continues to strive for excellence.

If you are searching for a steel supplier that operates with passion and integrity or simply want to get some professional advice, get in touch with Australian Steel Traders. We source quality steel from an extensive network of Australian and International suppliers, making the process smooth and efficient.

Ask for a quote from our friendly team today!