colonial sugar refining company
The Colonial Sugar Refining Company (also known as CSR) was founded by the Dane Sir Edward Knox in 1855. His son, Edward William Knox, led the firm for 40 years turning it into a large Australian enterprise.
Through multiple generations, the Knox family have continued to have a major influence on this international sugar conglomerate.
Through multiple generations, the Knox family have continued to have a major influence on this international sugar conglomerate.
the australasia sugar company
In 1839, Englishmen Francis Kemple and William Knox Child (not related to the Knox family) formed the Australia Sugar Company in Canterbury, Sydney, building a sandstone sugar refinery factory on the banks of the Cooks river. Sugar was imported from the Philippines and transported by cart from Sydney to Canterbury for refining. A disagreement between Child and Kemple, led to a dissolution of their partnership and Kemple established the Australasian Sugar Company in 1842, bringing in Sir Edward Knox a year later to manage the company.
Knox, along with two associates, purchased a rival sugar refinery and distillery, which was leased to the Australasian Sugar Company, however, in 1854, the company went into liquidation. Knox acquired its assets, and founded the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in January 1855, holding a third of its capital of £150,000.
Knox, along with two associates, purchased a rival sugar refinery and distillery, which was leased to the Australasian Sugar Company, however, in 1854, the company went into liquidation. Knox acquired its assets, and founded the Colonial Sugar Refining Company in January 1855, holding a third of its capital of £150,000.
From sugar refining to sugar milling
In the first two years, the company flourished paying a dividend of 50% a year. It was short-lived, however, and when world prices on sugar fell as well as a depression in Australia, the company was in serious trouble. Knox, who had sold his home and some of his shares to sail to England with his family, had to return immediately to save the company from complete ruin.
Given the instability in sugar prices and supply, Knox decided to explore the possibility of sugar growing on Australian soil, a bold decision with no precedent in Australia. He placed his 20-year-old son, Edward William, in charge of the project establishing sugar mills on the Macleay and Clarence Rivers in NSW. The mills opened in 1870; Edward William, at the age of 23, oversaw the company's now three sugar mills. Sugar milling turned out to be so successful for CSR that it quickly became the main source of the company's profits.
In 1875, CSR began building on the Pyrmont peninsula where it owned five acres. The CSR complex grew to include a sugar refinery, a distillery (which at one point supplied half of Australia's industrial alcohol needs), a factory and a laboratory. The refinery was at one point the largest single workplace (both in terms of staff and area) on the peninsula.
Given the instability in sugar prices and supply, Knox decided to explore the possibility of sugar growing on Australian soil, a bold decision with no precedent in Australia. He placed his 20-year-old son, Edward William, in charge of the project establishing sugar mills on the Macleay and Clarence Rivers in NSW. The mills opened in 1870; Edward William, at the age of 23, oversaw the company's now three sugar mills. Sugar milling turned out to be so successful for CSR that it quickly became the main source of the company's profits.
In 1875, CSR began building on the Pyrmont peninsula where it owned five acres. The CSR complex grew to include a sugar refinery, a distillery (which at one point supplied half of Australia's industrial alcohol needs), a factory and a laboratory. The refinery was at one point the largest single workplace (both in terms of staff and area) on the peninsula.
international expansion
Edward William was constantly trying to find ways in which the sugar milling processes could be improved and achieve greater efficiency. After a visit to the West Indies in 1876, he introduced new processes such as double crushing and established chemical laboratories for improved quality control measures.
In 1880, Edward Knox handed over the general management of the company to his son Edward William but remained chairman till his death in 1901. During Edward William's leadership, the company established refineries in other Australian colonies as well as New Zealand. it also built sugar mills in NSW, Queensland and Fiji. By 1903, it had 15 mills in Australia and Fiji. Between 1925 and 1973, CSR was the sole sugarcane miller in Fiji.
After WWII, the Australian sugar industry greatly expanded from 950,000 tons of sugar in the immediate postwar production to 1.3 million in 1954. CSR's mills, particularly in Victoria, expanded as a result. In the next 20 years, however, CSR's company activities expanded beyond sugar production, particularly in mining (including bauxite, aluminium and petroleum). During some of this time, the company's expansion took place under the directorship of Edward Ritchie Knox, a grandson of Edward Knox.
In 1973, the company became CSR Limited and subsequently divested itself of its sugar interests in Fiji and sold its NSW sugar mills. It was not until the 80s when it slowly revived its investment in the sugar industry regaining control of some of its previously divested sugar mills.
In 1880, Edward Knox handed over the general management of the company to his son Edward William but remained chairman till his death in 1901. During Edward William's leadership, the company established refineries in other Australian colonies as well as New Zealand. it also built sugar mills in NSW, Queensland and Fiji. By 1903, it had 15 mills in Australia and Fiji. Between 1925 and 1973, CSR was the sole sugarcane miller in Fiji.
After WWII, the Australian sugar industry greatly expanded from 950,000 tons of sugar in the immediate postwar production to 1.3 million in 1954. CSR's mills, particularly in Victoria, expanded as a result. In the next 20 years, however, CSR's company activities expanded beyond sugar production, particularly in mining (including bauxite, aluminium and petroleum). During some of this time, the company's expansion took place under the directorship of Edward Ritchie Knox, a grandson of Edward Knox.
In 1973, the company became CSR Limited and subsequently divested itself of its sugar interests in Fiji and sold its NSW sugar mills. It was not until the 80s when it slowly revived its investment in the sugar industry regaining control of some of its previously divested sugar mills.
mining controversies
From 1948 to 1966, CSR operated mines in Western Australia, which produced crocidolite fibre, a type of asbestos. During this time, anyone who came into contact with the mines, were exposed to lethal levels of blue asbestos (of which 150,000 tons were extracted from the mines) leading to many developing fatal diseases.
More than 250 law suits have been filed against CSR over the years for what is known as the Wittenoom tragedy (referring to the WA town where CSR operated its mines). It is considered to be the greatest single industrial disaster in Australia's history. "Blue Sky Mine" - a song by the Australian band Midnight Oil, is about the disaster.
More than 250 law suits have been filed against CSR over the years for what is known as the Wittenoom tragedy (referring to the WA town where CSR operated its mines). It is considered to be the greatest single industrial disaster in Australia's history. "Blue Sky Mine" - a song by the Australian band Midnight Oil, is about the disaster.
csr today
Today CSR is Australia's largest manufacturer of raw and defined sugar products, supplying approximately 60% of Australia's domestic sugar needs as well as 80% of that of New Zealand. It is also one of the world's largest building and construction materials companies operating not only in Australia but also in New Zealand, the US and Asia. Last year its revenues totalled AUS$1.74 billion.
Commercial banking company of Sydney (CBS)

Another company widely associated with the Knox family is the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney (CBC), which was established in 1834.
Over the years, it grew to service the ever-growing pastoral and farming industries of NSW. Edward Knox was the first Bank Manager, later became a director and finally the chairman of its board in 1853. He served with the bank for 55 years until his death in 1901.
Two of his sons, Edward William Knox and Thomas Forster Knox as well as a grandson, Edward Ritchie, all became directors of the company.
CBC merged with the National Bank of Australasia in 1982 to form National Commercial Banking Corporation of Australia.
Today it is better known as National Australia Bank (NAB).
Over the years, it grew to service the ever-growing pastoral and farming industries of NSW. Edward Knox was the first Bank Manager, later became a director and finally the chairman of its board in 1853. He served with the bank for 55 years until his death in 1901.
Two of his sons, Edward William Knox and Thomas Forster Knox as well as a grandson, Edward Ritchie, all became directors of the company.
CBC merged with the National Bank of Australasia in 1982 to form National Commercial Banking Corporation of Australia.
Today it is better known as National Australia Bank (NAB).