North

Product brand

North Limited was an Australian diversified mining and resources company that became a major international producer before being acquired by Rio Tinto in 2000.

Last updated October 23, 2026

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Overview

North Limited was an Australian diversified mining and resources company whose origins lay in the silver, lead and zinc fields of Broken Hill, New South Wales. Founded in 1888 as North Broken Hill Silver Mining, it became one of the important corporate successors to the early Broken Hill mining industry. The company was known locally as “North,” a shorthand that distinguished it from other major Broken Hill operators, and this informal identity was eventually formalized when the business adopted the name North Limited in 1994. The original North Broken Hill mine was the foundation of the business, but the company progressively expanded beyond its home district. Its production at Broken Hill eventually declined and the mine closed in 1993, while the corporate group developed interests across iron ore, copper, gold, zinc, uranium, forestry and related industrial activities. A major turning point came in 1988, when North acquired Peko-Wallsend. The acquisition broadened its resource portfolio and led to the name North Broken Hill Peko Limited before the company became North Limited. By the end of the 20th century, North had developed into a multinational resources group with operations and investments spanning several continents. Its most strategically important asset was a majority interest in Robe River Iron Associates in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Robe River was regarded as a large, low-cost iron ore producer, and iron ore became the central economic focus of the group. North also held a substantial interest in the Iron Ore Company of Canada, was investing in the development of the West Angelas mine in the Pilbara, and was expanding production at the Northparkes copper and gold mine in New South Wales. At the time of its takeover in 2000, iron ore represented approximately 44 percent of North’s value. Other significant interests included Zinkgruvan in Sweden, Energy Resources of Australia’s uranium business in the Northern Territory, the Bajo de la Alumbrera copper and gold mine in Argentina, North Forest Products in Tasmania, and several Australian gold ventures. The company also maintained exploration interests in countries including Indonesia, Côte d’Ivoire, Peru, Mexico and the United States. This portfolio made North a diversified resources company rather than a single-commodity miner, although iron ore increasingly dominated its strategic direction. North became the subject of a contested takeover in 2000. Rio Tinto initially made a hostile offer of A$3.80 per share. Anglo American subsequently offered A$4.20 per share, prompting Rio Tinto to increase its bid to A$4.75 per share. Rio Tinto's higher offer succeeded, North was delisted, and the corporate brand ceased to operate as an independent listed mining group. Rio Tinto integrated many of North’s assets into its own portfolio, while assets such as Northparkes were later sold. North Limited is therefore best understood as a defunct Australian mining corporation whose legacy survives through the mines, projects and subsidiaries absorbed or divested after the takeover.

History

North Limited originated in the mining district of Broken Hill in western New South Wales. It was established in 1888 as North Broken Hill Silver Mining to exploit the district’s rich deposits of silver, lead and zinc. The company’s name was shortened to North Broken Hill in 1905. In the local mining environment, “North” served as a practical identifier distinguishing the company from other operators, including Broken Hill South and The Broken Hill Proprietary. That informal name later became the basis of the company’s modern corporate identity. The original Broken Hill operation was the company’s foundation for decades, but the mine’s production gradually declined. The mine finally closed in 1993. Rather than remaining dependent on the original deposit, North had spent much of the 20th century developing a broader portfolio of mining and resource businesses. This diversification enabled the company to remain significant after its founding asset had matured. A major corporate transformation occurred in 1988, when North acquired Peko-Wallsend. The combined group initially operated as North Broken Hill Peko Limited. The acquisition brought together a broader collection of mining and industrial interests, including assets associated with the Peko and EZ Industries businesses. In 1994, the company adopted the shorter name North Limited, formalizing the name by which it had long been known in Broken Hill. During the 1990s, North expanded its international reach and increasingly emphasized large-scale resource assets. The group developed a particularly important position in iron ore through its 53 percent interest in Robe River Iron Associates in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Robe River was considered a major producer and one of the world’s lowest-cost iron ore operations. North also owned 56.1 percent of the Iron Ore Company of Canada and pursued additional Pilbara growth through the development of the West Angelas mine. North’s portfolio at the end of the decade remained diversified. It held the Zinkgruvan zinc mine in Sweden, a majority interest in Energy Resources of Australia’s uranium operation in the Northern Territory, an 80 percent interest in the Northparkes copper and gold mine in New South Wales, and a 25 percent interest in the Bajo de la Alumbrera copper and gold mine in Argentina. Its other interests included Australian gold joint ventures, the Tasmanian forestry business North Forest Products, and exploration activity in several countries. In 2000, iron ore assets accounted for about 44 percent of the company’s value, reflecting the growing strategic importance of the commodity. The company’s independent existence ended in a takeover contest in 2000. Rio Tinto made an initial hostile proposal valued at A$3.80 per share. Anglo American then submitted a higher offer of A$4.20 per share. Rio Tinto increased its proposal to A$4.75 per share, which prevailed. Following completion of the transaction, North was delisted. Rio Tinto absorbed many of North’s operations and interests into its own business, while other holdings, including Northparkes, were subsequently divested. North Limited consequently became a historical corporate predecessor within the Australian and international mining sector rather than an active standalone brand.

2000
Rio Tinto completes takeover
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
After a bidding contest with Anglo American, Rio Tinto acquires North at A$4.75 per share, after which North is delisted.
1994
The group adopts the name North Limited
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
The company changes its name from North Broken Hill Peko Limited to North Limited.
1993
Original Broken Hill mine closes
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
Production at the founding North Broken Hill mine ends after a long period of declining output.
1988
Acquisition of Peko-Wallsend
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
North takes over Peko-Wallsend, significantly broadening its mining and resources portfolio.
1905
The company becomes North Broken Hill
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
The corporate name is shortened as the Broken Hill mining operation continues to develop.
1888
North Broken Hill Silver Mining is established
[1]North Limiteden.wikipedia.org
The company is formed to develop silver, lead and zinc deposits at Broken Hill in New South Wales.

Products and positioning

A diversified Australian mining and resources group that evolved from Broken Hill base-metal mining into an internationally oriented company centered increasingly on low-cost iron ore production.

Iron ore
Robe River Iron Associates
North’s 53 percent interest in Robe River was its most important strategic asset. Located in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, the operation produced iron ore at very competitive costs and was central to North’s transformation from a diversified mining group into a company increasingly focused on large-scale iron ore exports.
Iron ore
West Angelas
West Angelas was a new Pilbara iron ore mine being developed as North approached its takeover. Investment in the project reflected management’s effort to expand production and reinforce the company’s position in the global iron ore market.
Iron ore
Iron Ore Company of Canada
North held a 56.1 percent interest in the Iron Ore Company of Canada, giving the group a major iron ore position outside Australia and adding geographic diversification to its Pilbara operations.
Copper and gold
Northparkes
Northparkes was a copper and gold mine in New South Wales in which North held an 80 percent interest. North had committed capital to increasing production, although the asset was later sold after Rio Tinto acquired the company.
Zinc
Zinkgruvan
Zinkgruvan was a Swedish zinc mining operation wholly owned by North at the time of its takeover, extending the group’s base-metals presence into Europe.
Uranium
Energy Resources of Australia
North owned 68.4 percent of Energy Resources of Australia, a uranium producer operating in Australia’s Northern Territory. The holding added an energy-minerals component to North’s otherwise broad resources portfolio.
Forestry products
North Forest Products
North Forest Products was North’s wholly owned Tasmanian forestry business. It produced plantation woodchips and represented a non-mining diversification within the group’s resource portfolio.

Controversies

2020
North offers refunds for Focals purchases
North informed customers that it would refund the full amount paid for Focals purchases, a move made in connection with the end of software support for the product. The company communicated the refund offer directly to buyers, stating that the full purchase price would be returned. The event was reported on June 30, 2020, amid the wind-down of software support for Focals.
Source

2000
Acceptance of Rio Tinto’s takeover offerM&A
Background
North became the target of a bidding contest after Rio Tinto made a hostile offer and Anglo American submitted a higher competing proposal.
Action taken
Rio Tinto raised its offer to A$4.75 per share and successfully acquired North Limited.
Aftermath
North was delisted, most of its assets were integrated into Rio Tinto, and selected businesses including Northparkes were later sold.
Takeover offer per share. A$3.80 → A$4.75 (2000)
- Anglo American — Anglo American made a competing offer of A$4.20 per share before Rio Tinto increased its bid.
Source
1994
Formalization of the North corporate identityStrategy
Background
The company had long been known informally as North in the Broken Hill mining community, even as its operations expanded beyond the original mine.
Action taken
After the Peko-Wallsend combination, the group changed its name to North Limited, removing the older Broken Hill and Peko references from its corporate title.
Aftermath
The shorter name reflected the company’s broader geographic and commodity scope, although the business remained rooted in the history of Broken Hill mining.
Source

Recent events

2020-06-30
North offers refunds for Focals purchases[2]North offers refunds for Focals purchasestechcrunch.com
Reported: 2020-06-30
North told customers it would refund the full amount paid for Focals purchases amid the end of software support.
2020-06-30
North cancels plans to ship Focals 2.0[3]North取消Focals 2.0的发售计划finance.yahoo.com
Reported: 2020-06-30
North's co-founders said the acquisition would mean cancelling plans to ship Focals 2.0, the company's second-generation smart glasses. The source describes cancellation of a planned release, not a product that had shipped.
2020-06-30
Google announces acquisition of North[4]谷歌宣布收购 Northtechspot.com
Reported: 2020-06-30
Google announced that it had acquired Canadian smart-glasses company North. The article did not disclose the transaction value; it reported an external estimate of about $180 million.
2020-06-30
Google acquires North[5]Google 收购 Northpocketnow.com
Reported: 2020-06-30
Google announced that it had acquired North, a Canadian smart-glasses company. The deal value was not disclosed.
2020-06-27
Alphabet reported to plan acquisition of North[6]报道称Alphabet将收购Northtech.sina.com.cn
Reported: 2020-06-27
A report said Alphabet would acquire North, a Canadian smart-glasses manufacturer. The report described the acquisition as a plan, not a completed transaction.
2020-04-08
Liberty introduces a new visual identity[7]Liberty推出全新视觉形象itsnicethat.com
Design studio North rebranded Liberty with a new visual identity, including a logo and graphic language.
Unconfirmed
North discontinues Focals smart glasses[8]North 停产 Focals 智能眼镜techspot.com
Reported: 2019-12-11
North discontinued its Focals smart glasses as it shifted its focus to a next-generation version.

Sources19 sources

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