Albright & Wilson

Location - https://maps.app.goo.gl/APPE7eWfWaUBkijB8

Origins & Establishment:
In 1939, Albright & Wilson PLC (a British chemical maker founded in 1856) began exporting phosphorus-based products to Australia, prompting plans for local manufacturing. By 1940, the company, in partnership with ICI Australia, founded Albright & Wilson Pty Ltd and opened its Yarraville phosphate plant, focused initially on phosphoric acid and phosphate production.

Growth & Product Diversification:
From 1958 to 1977, the Yarraville site expanded operations to produce surfactants, catering to growing household and personal care markets. In 1966, surfactant production was relocated to Box Hill following an acquisition, and later further moved to Wetherill Park, Sydney by 1989.

Ownership & Industry Role:
The Australian arm started as a joint venture owned 50/50 by Albright & Wilson UK and ICI Australia/NZ, until ICI divested by 1991. In 2003, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Universal Interchemical Corporation (Jakarta), specialising in phosphoric acid, food-grade phosphates, polyphosphates, and surfactants.

Broader Impact & Legacy:
The Yarraville plant was Melbourne’s major phosphate supplier, feeding industries such as agriculture, detergents, water treatment, metal processing, and personal care. It also supported soil and plant testing laboratories servicing Victoria, integrated later into Incitec Pivot’s agricultural services.

Winding Down & Closure:
By the late 1990s, the plant’s operations were becoming less viable due to tightening environmental standards, ageing infrastructure, and industry consolidation. In 2001, the site was decommissioned and sold off. Parts of the company’s Australian operations continued under different ownership (including Rhodia, then Huntsman, and later other chemical firms), but the original phosphate manufacturing at Yarraville stopped altogether.