BlueScope Steel’s history traces back far further than than 2002, when it officially became a standalone company.

For years, it was a business group within BHP/BHP Billiton, one of Australia’s most prominent mining and steel manufacturing conglomerate. Now, as an independent steel company BlueScope Steel is responsible with the manufacture and distribution of some of the most prized and durable steel products around, including those used in roofing.

In today’s blog, we’ll be taking a brief look at BlueScope Steel’s history and the famous roofing material it is responsible for.

A brief history of BlueScope Steel

BlueScope’s beginnings can be traced all the way back to 1885, when a company by the name of Broker Hill Proprietary Ltd (BHP) was formed. In the early years, BHP’s main focus was mining, but in 1915, the company began investing in steelmaking in Newcastle. BHP’s focus then became focused on two notable fronts - mining and manufacturing.

The company that would one day become known as BlueScope Steel was simply a business group within BHP - a division that focused on steelmaking and distribution.

As the years passed, BHP expanded substantially. It eventually went onto fully acquire Lysaght, a company that dealt - and continues to deal - in the production of steel building products. It was Lysaght that played a prominent role in the production of Colorbond steel, with the first ever piece being produced in 1966.

During the process of BHP’s acquisition of Lysaght (BHP initially acquired 50% of the business in 1971, then acquired it fully a few years later), they pushed for increased manufacturing of Colorbond.

Over the years, BHP continued to expand and partner with other companies, while acquiring others abroad. In 2001, BHP merged with Billiton Plc, and a year later BlueScope Steel would become an independent company. However, when the company became its own and was subsequently listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on Monday, 15 July 2002, it wasn’t yet known as BlueScope - it was known as BHP Steel. It would be a year later that its name would be changed to BlueScope Steel.

Now, BlueScope Steel is one of the most successful steel companies in Australia, producing steel material products for needs such as fencing, flooring, sheds, garages, guttering and roofing.

BlueScope’s Colorbond steel

Among the products that BlueScope Steel manufactures is Colorbond steel and, along with Lysaght roofing products (which are also made from Colorbond Steel), it’s the main roofing product they sell.

Colorbond steel comes with a number of advantages as a roofing material, which include:

• Durability - resistant to chipping, peeling and cracking
• Anti-corrosive - Colorbond steel roofs have a high tolerance and resistance to corrosion, regardless of the conditions
• Solar reflective - as part of Colorbond steels design, it includes a solar reflective technology that helps maintain more consistent temperatures inside the home all year round
• 100% recyclable - 100% steel, Colorbond roofing is lightweight and can be recycled, making it an environmentally friendly roofing solution
• Built to last - Colorbond steel roofs are backed by an extensive warranty as offered by BlueScope Steel - 30 years for corrosion and/or perforation & 20 years for flaking and/or peeling due to natural weathering

At Roo Roofing, Colorbond steel is our metal roofing material of choice. We only use the highest quality materials as provided by BlueScope Steel, to ensure that we offer our customers the best of the best so that they have a roof that lasts and withstands the harshest of elements.

If you’d like to find out more about the advantages of Colorbond or are interested in having a Colorbond roof installed, give us a call on 1300 734 148.