Early history
The Van Diemen’s Land Company was founded in May 1824 with the aim of supplying cheap wool to British textile factories.
It was granted 143,500 hectares of land in northern Tasmania in 1825. A group of English officials arrived in Van Diemen’s Land a year later to start establishing the company. The group consisted of a chief agent, a superintendent, an agriculturalist, surveyors, and an architect.
From 1828, the company built centres for sheep, wool, and grain production. It also established several farms and stock depots. Its headquarters were located at Circular Head.
Many Tasmanian Aboriginals were sadly displaced and murdered as the company developed its land.
Wool was not a great success for the company. When James Gibson was appointed its chief agent 1841, he decided to try its luck at land development. Not only did the company’s income increase, it also played a key role in the growth of Stanley and Burnie!
Later history
During the latter half of the twentieth century, the Van Diemen’s Land Company focused on dairy, sheep, beef, lamb, and tourism activities at Woolnorth.
It became part of Tasman Agriculture in 1993, but in 2016, it was sold to Moon Lake Investments for A$280 million.
Scott Morrison, who was serving as Federal Treasurer at the time, approved the sale. Jan Cameron, the founder of Kathmandu, said Mr Morrison “betrayed the future of many generations of Australians” by doing so.
Today
The Van Diemen’s Land Company is believed to be the last chartered company still operating in Australia.
Its main focus is dairy. It currently has 25 dairy farms and 19,000 cows, making it Australia’s biggest producer of milk.
Subsidiaries
The Van Diemen’s Land Company has had several subsidiaries over the years, including the Emu Bay and Mount Bischoff Railway Company (established 1875) and the Burnie (Tasmania) Timber and Brick Company (created 1908).
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