| R. W. Miller | |
| Foundation: | 1923 |
| Location City: | Sydney |
| Location Country: | Australia |
| Area Served: | Australia |
| Industry: | Coal mining Pubs Shipping |
R. W. Miller was an Australian company that had interests in coal mining, pubs and shipping. The company was named after its founder Robert William Miller (1879-1958).[1]
R. W. Miller was founded in 1923 as a colliery proprietor and coal dealer.[2] It became involved in the coastal coal-carrying trade of New South Wales to convey coal between Newcastle and Sydney.[3] [4] [5]
R. W. Miller owned many coal mines in the Hunter Valley. In 1942, a brewery was purchased in Petersham. This was followed by the purchase of many pubs. In 1967, the Miller's Brewery was sold to Tooheys, followed by the pubs in 1968.[6] [7] [8]
In the late-1960s and early-1970s, TNT, Ampol and Howard Smith built up substantial shareholdings with takeover offers by the latter two resulting in a protracted takeover battle resulting in an important legal case and subsequent appeal to the Privy council, Howard Smith Ltd v Ampol Petroleum Ltd.[9] [10] [11] In 1979, Howard Smith's shareholding was increased to 67% in 1979 when it acquired Ampol's shareholding and in February 1985 it took 100% ownership.[12] In 1988, R. W. Miller merged with Coal & Allied.[13]