GRAINCORP celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016 and the company has received the best possible present – the highest number of receivals since 2012-13, with significant in-flows of grain still expected.
In spite of slow harvesting weather, GrainCorp notched up 10 million tonnes of grain into its network this week and the forecast is for plenty more still to come, with much of Victoria yet to fully get going on wheat.
Today’s modern agribusiness, which along with its traditional bulk handling assets is now a big player in malt and oils, is a far cry from the company’s beginning in 1916 as a government owned series of silos.
GrainCorp traces its history back to the NSW Government’s 1916 Grain Elevators Act, which saw the constructing of 200 silos across the state, connected by a rail network.
It marked an official step towards bulk handling of grain, rather than the old bagged system which was the previous status quo.
The first terminal was built at Peak Hill in NSW’s Central West, marking a period of NSW Government control of the silos which ran until 1989 when it was corporatised and GrainCorp was formed.
Similar unwinding of statutory arrangements was taking place around the same time in Victoria and Queensland, leading to the creation of private bulk handling businesses in VicGrain and GrainCo respectively.
GrainCorp acquired VicGrain in 2000 and then GrainCo in 2003 to lead to the footprint of bulk handling sites down the east coast we see today.
After combating drought over recent years leading to below average deliveries to its network, GrainCorp officials welcomed this year’s spring rain with greater enthusiasm than any birthday cake or telegram from the Queen.