Robert’s lecture will discuss Rio Tinto’s formation and the evolution of its main business activities in Australia. A focus of his lecture will be the initial and ongoing connections of the company with Melbourne and Victoria. After a patchy start in Australia, in 1962, Rio Tinto merged with Consolidated Zinc to form Conzinc Riotinto of Australia (CRA). Under the leadership of legendary mining figure, Sir Maurice Mawby, CRA progressed the development of the aluminium industry in Australia, the establishment of Australia’s export iron ore industry based on the Mount Tom Price deposit in the Pilbara, as well as a major copper operation on the island of Bougainville. The early Australian management saw themselves as contributing to Australia’s post-war development and nation building.