Part of the big crowd gathered at Beef 2024 in Rockhampton this afternoon to celebrate AA Co’s two hundredth anniversary

THE Australian Agricultural Co celebrated its two-hundredth anniversary since its foundation by Royal Decree in 1824 with a lively long lunch during the early stages of Beef 2024 in Rockhampton this afternoon.

More than 400 guests toasted the company’s unique milestone, being the only Australian business entity to operate across 200 years under its original name. While the Bank of NSW (Westpac) was founded earlier, it has undergone changes of entity and name over the centuries.

From its original million acres granted by Royal Decree in England in 1824, AA Co today encompasses some 16 million acres and roughly half a million high quality cattle.

The gathering at Beef 2024 brought together a wide range of stakeholders connected with the company in some way, including former and current senior managers, chairmen and board directors, beef customers, service providers, Federal and State politicians include PM Anthony Albanese, industry representatives, research collaborators and others.

Former AA Co board member and MLA chairman David Crombie gave a typically polished and entertaining address while offering the toast to the company’s milestone.

He acknowledged a number of staff, both past and present, who had spent 30 years or more with the company.

“Most of the people in this room are connected in some way with AA Co,” Mr Crombie said.

“In an industry of constant change, AA Co has always been there. It’s been part of our lives.

“AA Co is the grand old lady – she saw the Wright Brothers fly at Kittyhawk, she saw Ned Kelly come and go. She survived the Federation drought, two world wars, the Great Depression, two long-serving Queens – Victoria and Elizabeth – and five Kings. She was with us at the launch of our constitution, and the Federation of States in 1901.”

“We all have our memories of AA Co, and its people,” he said.

The company’s genetic evolution (click here to view earlier Beef Central articles), had been a part of AA Co’s research to improve productivity and deliver high quality beef to satisfy its customers.

“It’s a 200-year goal that persists to this day,” Mr Crombie said.

While the AA Co properties themselves were iconic, it was the people who defined the company, and what it stood for, he said.

“It takes special people to meet the challenges of our northern industry,” Mr Crombie said, making reference to the incredible commitment and sacrifice made by AA Co personnel in the wake of the devastating Gulf floods of early 2019.

“My abiding memory was of the courage and tears of the staff, as they got on with the job. Seasoned hands working with young men and women, many in their first year, ferrying hay to stranded stock and burying the dead.”

“These events demand a special response – it takes special people, and there were plenty of them across the Gulf communities who responded magnificently during the 2019 flood, and ironically, in the drought that followed.”

“For 200 years, AA Co has never strayed too far away from its core business, of producing high quality beef at scale. She is the grand old lady of corporate Australia. She has been generous in sharing her experiences with others, and has provided pathways for countless young men and woman commencing their career journey.

“She has been an industry touch-point, and an important part of Australia’s colonial and post-colonial history.”

• Former board member David Crombie reflects on 200 years of AA Co operations in a Trend Setters podcast with host Kerry Lonergan later this week, recorded during Beef 2024.

Here’s some faces from today’s event:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with AA Co managing director David Harris, left, and chief financial officer Glen Steedman.

Former AA Co managing director John Griffith and NTCA chair Henry Burke, CPC, who worked for AA Co out of Brunette Downs for 37 years.

Helping celebrate AA Co’s 200 years were from left, Will Heath, Palgrove; David Packer MLA; and Henry Reinhardt, Hewitt Cattle Australia

Joining the AA Co celebration were Russell (left) and Trish (right) Pearson, Bull Creek, McKinlay, with Chris MacDonald, Devoncourt, Cloncurry, her daughter in law Julie MacDonald, and Julie’s daughter Katie.

Kirstie Sparrow, Malden Grazing Company, and Federal Nationals leader David Littleproud at the AA Co 200th birthday celebrations at Beef 2024.

Senator Susan McDonald, Jacynta and Adam Coffey, Miriam Vale and Justin Slaughter, Managing Director and CEO of AgTrade Group.

MLA chair Allan Beckett and General Manager – International Markets, Andrew Cox.

Future Drought Fund Chair Brent Finlay, QFF CEO Jo Sheppard and Simon Wright from Armidale at the AACo 200th birthday lunch at Beef 2024.

Richard Heath and Jason Strong at the 200th AACo birthday celebration at Beef 2024.

Kate and Peter Murphy, Gregory Springs, Hughenden and Natasha Greenwood, CommBank at the AACo Long Lunch at Beef 2024.