1838

In 1838, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort migrated to Australia with a passion and dream of developing the agricultural opportunities the young nation presented.

1843

Five years later, Mort & Co was founded. Thomas, along with his brother Henry, went on to pioneer Australia’s wool, meat, dairy and sugar industries, including the first export refrigerated delivery of Australian beef to the world.

1878

Following Thomas Mort’s passing in 1878, Lord Loftus (then Governor of New South Wales) erected a bronze statue in the centre of Sydney’s Macquarie Place to honour the pastoralist. Upon unveiling the Mort statue, his Excellency declared Thomas “one of the greatest patriots this colony has possessed.”

1888

Originally established as an auctioneering and brokering business specifically focusing on selling wool, Mort & Co developed into a leading pastoral house before merging with R Goldsbrough & Co in 1888 to form Goldsbrough Mort & Co.

1962

In 1962, this company amalgamated with Elder Smith & Co to become Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd. Consolidation continued, and in 1981, Elder Smith Goldsbrough Mort & Co Ltd combined with Henry Jones IXL to form Elders IXL, which today trades as Elders. Eventually, his businesses and pastoral interests stretched across the nation, but his greatest legacy was his dedication to Australian primary industries.

1997

On the 10th of January 1997, more than 150 years since the birth of Mort & Co, the company was re-established by Thomas’ great-great-great nephew, Charlie Mort. The Mort & Co name was once again circulating the agricultural industry, commencing its modern-day journey as a humble agency for managing and marketing custom lot fed cattle on the Darling Downs.

2003

Mort & Co began exploring the prospect of developing its own feedlots and purchased the land on which Grassdale, the largest feedlot in Australia, would be built. A joint venture was also formed with a local haulage service provider to facilitate the transport of Mort & Co cattle. Within the next decade, the transport business would be wholly owned by the company.

2006

In 2006, Pinegrove Feedlot was purchased, initially housing 6,500 head of cattle before later expanding to accommodate a further 3,500 head. Soon after, Grassdale Feedlot construction was completed, housing 34,000 head. Today, Grassdale remains the only large-scale greenfield feedlot to be built in Australia in the last 20 years.

2015

Mort & Co quickly transitioned from a custom feeding model to taking complete ownership of every animal in its care. It was at this time that the company took its first step into the global market with the launch of a premium branded beef range, Phoenix Beef.

2020

By 2020, Grassdale had undergone three more expansions, taking the feedlot to Australia’s largest at a total capacity of 79,000 head. The site also began to diversify, identifying an avenue for feedlot manure waste in Grassdale Fertilisers, later branded Mort & Co Fertilisers. Construction of the Australian first fertiliser facility promptly commenced, and a new era in sustainability was born.

Current day

Now home to a suite of complementary businesses covering fertilisers, farming, cottonseed oil, stockfeeds, transport, mechanics, grazing management and beef exports, as well as investments in two additional feedlots, Mort & Co continues on the path of its predecessor, pioneering the latest in innovation and technology to supply premium agricultural products to the world.