Wesfarmers facts for kids
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Trade name
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Wesfarmers |
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| Public | |
| Traded as |
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| Industry | Conglomerate |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Headquarters | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
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Number of locations
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1,933 stores (2024) |
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Area served
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Key people
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| Revenue |  $44 billion (2024) |
 $2.6 billion (2024) |
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| Total assets | $27.3 billion (2024) |
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Number of employees
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120,000 (2024) |
| Subsidiaries |
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| Footnotes / references Subsidiaries according to the Wesfarmers 2023 Annual Report |
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Wesfarmers Limited is a very large Australian company. It's like a big group that owns many different businesses. These businesses sell things like home improvement items, clothes, office supplies, and even chemicals and safety gear.
Wesfarmers started in 1914 to help farmers in Western Australia. Over the years, it grew a lot and now owns popular stores like Bunnings, Kmart, and Target. It's one of Australia's biggest companies and employs many people.
History of Wesfarmers
Wesfarmers began in 1914 as the Westralian Farmers Co-operative Limited. It was set up by farmers to help other farmers in Western Australia. The company provided services and goods to people living in rural areas.
The name "Westralian" is a mix of "western" and "Australian." By 1919, many smaller co-operative companies worked with Westralian Farmers Limited.
Early Business Ventures
In 1924, Wesfarmers started the first public radio station in Western Australia, called 6WF. This station later became part of the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1929. Today, it is known as ABC Radio Perth.
By the 1940s, the company was involved in many different businesses. They were wheat and general merchants, sold oil products, and auctioned wool and livestock. They also exported grain and fruit, and offered insurance.
Transport and Growth
In 1949, Wesfarmers bought Ashburton Transport. The next year, they also bought Gascoyne Trading, a major competitor. They combined these companies to deliver goods to the northwest of Western Australia.
These transport companies carried bananas from Carnarvon to Perth. They also brought supplies and mail back to Carnarvon. Gascoyne Trading was one of the first to use refrigerated trucks and large road trains.
Becoming a Public Company
In 1984, Westralian Farmers Co-operative Limited changed its structure. It became Wesfarmers Limited and was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. This meant that people could buy shares in the company.
At first, the co-operative still owned 60% of the shares. This made sure that the farmer members kept control. Over time, Wesfarmers became a fully public company in 2001. This allowed it to buy even more businesses.
Wesfarmers Businesses Today
Wesfarmers owns many well-known businesses across Australia and New Zealand. These businesses are grouped into different divisions.
Bunnings Group
Bunnings Group sells products for home improvement and outdoor living. They serve both regular customers and businesses. You can find Bunnings stores in Australia and New Zealand.
They have over 513 locations, including large warehouse stores and smaller shops. Bunnings also includes Beaumont Tiles and Tool Kit Depot. More than 51,000 people work for Bunnings.
Kmart Group
The Kmart Group includes two popular department stores: Kmart and Target.
Kmart Australia
Kmart is a discount department store in Australia and New Zealand. It has more than 322 stores and employs over 40,000 staff. Kmart sells a wide range of products at affordable prices.
Target Australia
Target is another department store in Australia. It has 124 stores and employs over 10,000 staff. Target Australia is not connected to the American company with the same name.
Officeworks
Officeworks sells office products for homes, businesses, and schools in Australia. They have 171 stores and employ about 9,000 staff.
In 2019, Officeworks bought Geeks2U. This company provides computer and technology help at your home or business.
Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF)
Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy & Fertilisers (WesCEF) makes and sells chemicals, fertilisers, and gas products. This division employs over 1,500 people.
They have factories that produce important chemicals like ammonia and ammonium nitrate. They also make PVC plastic and gas products like LPG and LNG.
Industrial and Safety
Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety provides products and services for industrial workplaces and safety. They operate in Australia and New Zealand and employ 3,700 staff.
Their businesses include Blackwoods, which sells industrial and safety equipment. They also own Workwear Group, which makes popular workwear brands like King Gee and Hard Yakka.
Wesfarmers Health
Wesfarmers Health is a newer division that focuses on healthcare. Wesfarmers bought Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) in 2022 to start this division. They employ around 3,000 staff.
This division includes Priceline and Priceline Pharmacy stores. In 2023, Wesfarmers Health also bought InstantScripts, a company that provides online health services.
Wesfarmers OneDigital
In 2019, Wesfarmers bought Catch Group, which runs the online shopping website Catch.com.au. However, in January 2025, Wesfarmers announced that Catch.com.au would stop trading in April 2025.
Other Businesses
Wesfarmers also has interests in other companies. These include a 50% share in Gresham Partners, an investment company. They also own 50% of Wespine, a sawmill that processes timber.
Former Businesses
Over the years, Wesfarmers has also sold off some of its businesses.
Insurance
In 2014, Wesfarmers sold its insurance businesses. This included companies that provided insurance broking and premium funding services. They also sold their insurance underwriting operations.
Coles
In 2007, Wesfarmers bought the Coles Group retail business. This was a very big deal, costing $22 billion. Coles included supermarkets, liquor stores, and fuel stations.
When Wesfarmers bought Coles, they also acquired Kmart and Target, which were part of the Coles Group at the time. Coles employed over 105,000 staff.
In 2018, Wesfarmers decided to separate Coles into its own company again. Wesfarmers kept a small share in Coles at first, but by April 2023, they had sold all their shares.
Coal Mining
Wesfarmers used to own and operate coal mines in Australia. This included the Curragh coal mine in Queensland. Wesfarmers sold off its coal mining businesses by December 2018.
Transport
Wesfarmers Transport was a large transport company in Western Australia. It grew from the Gascoyne Trading Company, which Wesfarmers bought in 1950. In 2001, this transport business was sold to Toll Holdings.
Company Leaders
Here are some of the important people who have led Wesfarmers over the years.
Chairmen
- 1914–1916: Deane Hammond
- 1916–1921: Matthew Padbury
- 1921–1953: Walter Harper
- 1953–1965: Ernest Thorley Loton
- 1965–1975: Walter Crosse
- 1975–1982: Maurice Clayton
- 1983–1986: Marcus Beeck
- 1986–2002: Harry Perkins
- 2002–2008: Trevor Eastwood
- 2008–2015: Bob Every
- 2015–present: Michael Chaney
Chief Executives
- 1917–1925: Basil Murray
- 1925–1957: John Thomson
- 1958–1973: Keith Edwards
- 1974–1984: John Bennison
- 1984–1992: Trevor Eastwood
- 1992–2005: Michael Chaney
- 2005–2017: Richard Goyder
- 2017–present: Rob Scott
