Browse Entities

Associated Pulp & Paper Mills Limited (1936 - 1993)

From
1936
Melbourne, Victoria
To
1993
Functions
Manufacturing
Alternative Names
  • APPM

Summary

Registered in Victoria in 1936 for the purpose of setting up a wood pulp and paper making industry in northern Tasmania. The company merged with APM Ltd in 1993 to form Amcor Ltd.

Details

The company was registered in Victoria, April 18, 1936, for the purpose of establishing a wood pulp and paper industry at Burnie, Tasmania. Five Australian companies were associated with the promotion of the enterprise: Australia Glass Manufacturers Ltd., Broken Hill South Ltd., Electrolytic Zinc Co. of Australasia Ltd., North Broken Hill Ltd., and Zinc Corporation Ltd. Stock Exchange listing was granted in 1937 and in December 1938, the pulp mill commenced operations. During the 1943-44 financial year, the company acquired the whole of the issued shares for Paper Makers Pty Ltd., which owned 123,000 acres of freehold forest areas and 140 acres of freehold adjoining the mill area.

In 1959 a 185 acres site was purchased at Wesley Vale, near Davenport. A particle board mill began production in June 1963, and, after an outlay of $27 million, the pulp and paper mill came on stream in March 1971. In May 1970, arrangements were concluded for the construction of a woodchip manufacturing plant, ship loading installation and ancillary facilities at Long Reach on the Tamar River, Tasmania. Shipments to Japan commenced in October 1972.

In August 1970 an agreement was reached with Wiggins Teape Ltd., London for the acquisition of Wiggins Teape (Australia) Pty. Ltd. and subsidiaries and Samuel Jones & Co. (Australia) Ltd.

In 1982 the company acquired 66% of Kilndried Timber Industries Limited. In November of the same year North Broken Hill Holdings moved to take over the company. On February 9, 1983 the company was successfully taken over by North Prospecting Pty Ltd., a subsidiary of North Broken Hill Holdings.

Timeline

 1936 - 1993 Associated Pulp & Paper Mills Limited
       1984 - Amcor Limited

Archival resources

Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart, (formerly Archives Office of Tasmania)

  • Associated Pulp & Paper Mills Limited records, 1937 - 1977, NG 551; Tasmanian Archive and Heritage Office, Hobart, (formerly Archives Office of Tasmania). Details

University of Melbourne Archives

Published resources

Books

  • A review 1936-1955, Associated Pulp and Paper Mills, Melbourne, Victoria, 1955, 16 pp. Details
  • Lawrence, Tess, 50th Anniversary of APPM. An anecdotal history, 1936-1986, Jezebel Press, Northcote, Victoria, 1986, 68 pp. Details

Bruce A. Smith