09 November 2022

50 year anniversay at BlueScope Western Port

Half a century of operations was celebrated on 3 November 2022 at the home of BlueScope’s Victorian COLORBOND® steel manufacturing site at Hastings.

BlueScope Western Port, the Mornington Peninsula’s largest private employer, hosted an anniversary event for current and past employees.

Western Port’s Manager, Michael Hussey and retired Manager, Cyril Benjamin, gave first-hand accounts about BlueScope Western Port’s history and the bright future it has in the local community. “We were delighted to share the celebrations with so many current and past employees. In fact, we have several local multi-generational families who have worked with us over five decades.

“BlueScope Western Port, which opened under the name John Lysaght Australia in 1972, currently employs around 800 people from the region, however, over the last 50 years, I’m proud to say we have employed around 10,000 people.

“The foundation for the next 50 years for BlueScope Western Port has been well laid. In March 2022, we opened our new service centre, with a steel processing capacity of more than 100,000 tonnes per annum,” Michael said. The $34 million facility is an investment in the latest technology, secures local jobs and strengthens Victoria’s manufacturing industry.

At BlueScope, we believe our local communities are our homes, so over two open days, employees and their families and friends were invited to tour the site. Approximately 2,000 visitors toured around the plant. More than one million tonnes per annum of steel products such COLORBOND® steel, ZINCALUME® steel, and TRUECORE® steel are made at Western Port, destined for national and international markets.

Background

BlueScope’s Western Port site has evolved from two earlier company trading names: JLA - John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd, BHP Steel - Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, Steel Division.