Issue Details: First known date: 2012... 2012 William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Born in Queenscliff in 1859, William Lawrence Baillieu rose from a humble background to become a successful auctioneer during Melbourne's feverish land boom of the 1880s. He quickly built a large fortune, only to lose it all in the crash of the early 1890s. Ever the astute and daring entrepreneur, he resurrected his fortunes, and those of his family, beginning with real estate, share trading and gold mining and going on to build Australia's greatest diversified business empire.

Working closely with Herbert Hoover and WS Robinson, Baillieu had the vision and leadership to pioneer minerals flotation processes that revived the fortunes of Broken Hill. He founded the the Collins House group, which dominated Australian mining, metals processing and manufacturing in the first half of the 20th century and was the creative genius behind the rise of such companies as Rio Tinto, the Herald & Weekly Times, Electrolytic Zinc, Dunlop, and Carlton & United Breweries. In the first two decades of federation, "Big Bill" Baillieu was a major figure in Victorian politics, being widely believed to be 'the puppet master who pulled the strings' behind every state ministry. He was also highly influential at the federal level, playing a central role in the establishment of the Nationalist government led by Billy Hughes in early 1917.

As a builder of businesses and constructor of new industries, W.L. Baillieu left a profound and lasting imprint on the development of Australia..' Source: http://hardiegrant.com.au/ (Sighted 06/02/2012).

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Richmond, East Melbourne - Richmond area, Melbourne, Victoria,: Hardie Grant Books , 2012 .
      Extent: viii, 423p.p.
      Description: illus., ports
      Note/s:
      • Includes bibliographical references and index.
      ISBN: 9781742702452

Works about this Work

Two Fortunes John Arnold , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , May no. 341 2012; (p. 60-61)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
Pick of the Week Steven Carroll , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 5 May 2012; (p. 34)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
A Man of Enterprise Robert Willson , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 31 March 2012; (p. 28)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
Baillieu Family Salutes Dynasty Founder... Lawrence Money , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 5 March 2012; (p. 20)
A Man of Enterprise Robert Willson , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 31 March 2012; (p. 28)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
Pick of the Week Steven Carroll , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: The Saturday Age , 5 May 2012; (p. 34)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
Two Fortunes John Arnold , 2012 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , May no. 341 2012; (p. 60-61)

— Review of William Lawrence Baillieu : Founder of Australia's Greatest Business Empire Peter Yule , 2012 single work biography
Baillieu Family Salutes Dynasty Founder... Lawrence Money , 2012 single work column
— Appears in: The Age , 5 March 2012; (p. 20)
Last amended 26 Jun 2012 12:32:21
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