About Us » Our Company » Our history

Ord Minnett has a long and proud position within the history of the Australian financial services industry and dates back to 1872 via our founding stockbroking firm of T.J. Thompson & Sons which was established in the second year of the Sydney Stock Exchange.

The Ord Minnett name however is derived from a partnership formed in 1949 by two friends, Charles Ord and Jack Minnett.  Although separated in age by 18 years, Charles and Jack had become close friends while serving in the Australian Infantry Forces during World War Two.  After the War, when Jack Minnett worked at A.W. Harvey & Lowe, Charles Ord was one of his clients.  Ord Minnett, or "Ords" as we have become popularly known, came into being when Charles invited Jack to join him in a new stockbroking partnership.

The next three decades saw the business grow under the strategic vision of Charles Ord and the entrepreneurial flair of Jack Minnett.  Significant mergers took place and in particular, the 1960 merger with A.W. Harvey Lowe & Co. and the 1964 merger of T.J. Thompson & Sons.  Also significant was the firm's move into merchant banking where it was instrumental in the formation of Darling & Company (later Schroders) and the formation of Ord-BT with Charles Ord as Chairman.

The strategic vision of our founding firms is only one of the reasons for Ord Minnett's successful history.  Also important has been Ord Minnett's ability to attract some of the very best minds available at the time.  The alumni of Ord Minnett is an impressive list and includes names such as Jim Wolfensohn, the ex. Head of the World Bank, David Hoare, who was the Chairman of Telstra and Ian MacFarlane, who was formerly Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.

With the deregulation of Australian financial markets in 1984, the business, which had operated as a partnership until that time, incorporated and changed its name to the Ord Minnett Group Limited.

After a number of ownership changes, including the purchase of what was then Jardine Fleming Ord Minnett Pty Limited by J.P. Morgan Holdings Australia Limited, and the acquisition of Dicksons Limited in 2002, Ord Minnett is now 30% owned by J.P. Morgan and 70% owned by IOOF Holdings Limited.

At Ord Minnett we're extremely proud of our Australian heritage and our long track record of delivering value to our clients.