Robert Harper & Co. Ltd

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Agent TypeOrganisationIdentifierUMA-AG-000001465Activities & OccupationsMerchants, produceManufacturers, foodHistoryEstablished in 1865 at Flinders Lane East, Melbourne by Robert Harper who was later joined by his brothers William and later John. The partnership acquired the premises and business of the Oriental Rice Mill Company and subsequently the mills of W Degrave & Co. In 1888 the company transferred its operations from the city to Port Melbourne. Registered as Robert Harper and Company Limited in Victoria 23 Dec 1896. Converted to a public company 1914[?]. The company manufactured starch and a wide range of food products including breakfast cereals and oatmeal, lentils, deserts, spices and bird seed and stock food. The company acquired the business of Malties Pty Ltd in Feb 1955. It operated branch factories in Sydney (1877), Adelaide (1882), Brisbane (1882), and Fremantle (1895). Depots were established at Bendigo, Ballarat, Rockhampton, Townsville & Toowoomba. The whole of the ordinary share capital of the company was acquired by Ralston Purina Company of St Louis, USA in 1962 and of the preference shares in 1966.Search records of this agent

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Date1865-1966

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Robert Harper & Co. Ltd