Is Lysaght publicly traded?

Lysaght is not publicly traded as a separate entity. Its parent company, BlueScope Steel Limited, is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under ticker BSL. BlueScope reported FY2024 revenues of approximately A$18.6 billion. Investors who hold BlueScope Steel shares indirectly own a proportional interest in Lysaght's operations.

When was Lysaght founded?

Lysaght was founded in 1857 by John Lysaght in Bristol, England, as a metal working business producing galvanized corrugated iron. The ORB trademark, registered in 1857, remains in use today as CUSTOM ORB. Australian manufacturing commenced in April 1921 at a purpose-built facility in Newcastle, NSW. Lysaght celebrated 100 years of Australian manufacturing in 2021.

John Lysaght, a 25-year-old Irish entrepreneur, founded the company in Bristol, England in 1857. He began galvanizing corrugated steel sheeting and exporting it to Australia under the ORB trademark. His nephew Herbert Royse Lysaght directed the establishment of Australian manufacturing operations during World War I, leading to the incorporation of John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd in 1917 and the commencement of manufacturing in Newcastle in 1921.

What is Lysaght's market position?

Lysaght is one of Australia's most recognized building products brands, holding a premium position in the steel roofing, walling, and structural products market. The brand's CUSTOM ORB, KLIP-LOK, and BONDEK profiles are widely used in Australian residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial construction. Lysaght generates approximately A$70 million in annual revenue and employs approximately 117 people. The brand's integration with BlueScope Steel's COLORBOND and ZINCALUME steel technologies provides a competitive advantage.

Where are Lysaght products made?

Lysaght products are manufactured at roll-forming facilities across Australia, with locations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. All products are made from 100% Australian-made BlueScope steel, primarily COLORBOND and ZINCALUME steel produced at BlueScope's Port Kembla Steelworks in New South Wales. Products are tested at BlueScope's NATA-accredited facility.

Conglomerates & Industrial

Who Owns Lysaght?

Q: Is Lysaght a subsidiary of BlueScope Steel?

Yes. Lysaght is a wholly-owned brand of BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL), operating within the company's Building Products segment. Lysaght became part of BHP's steel operations in 1979 and joined BlueScope Steel when BHP spun off its steel business in 2002. The brand was renamed BlueScope Lysaght before reverting to Lysaght in 2013.

Lysaght is a brand of BlueScope Steel Limited (ASX: BSL), Australia's largest steel manufacturer. The brand traces its origins to 1857 when Irish entrepreneur John Lysaght began galvanizing corrugated steel sheeting in Bristol, England, exporting it to Australia under the ORB trademark. Australian manufacturing commenced in 1921 at a purpose-built facility in Newcastle, NSW. Lysaght became part of BHP's steel operations in 1979 and joined BlueScope Steel when BHP spun off its steel business in 2002. Lysaght's product range includes roofing, walling, fencing, gutters, purlins, and structural formwork made from BlueScope's COLORBOND and ZINCALUME steel. The brand employs approximately 117 people and generates approximately A$70 million in annual revenue.

Parent Company

BlueScope Steel Limited

Acquired

1979

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Lysaght Timeline

1857

Lysaght

Founded by John Lysaght

Founded

1979

Acquired by BlueScope Steel Limited

BlueScope Steel Limited acquired Lysaght

Acquired

premiumpremiumAsia PacificOfficial Website

Who Owns Lysaght?

Parent Company: BlueScope Steel Limited
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 1979
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: ASX: BSL

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Lysaght	BlueScope Steel Limited	Wholly owned

History of Lysaght

Founded: 1857
Founders: John Lysaght
Acquired by BlueScope Steel Limited: 1979

In 1857, 25-year-old Irishman John Lysaght began galvanizing corrugated steel sheeting at the St Vincent's Works in Bristol, England. He registered the product under the ORB trademark, which remains in use today as CUSTOM ORB. Corrugated iron became one of the defining building materials of the 19th and early 20th centuries, used for roofing and walling across the British Empire. The material's light weight, durability, and ease of installation made it particularly valuable in colonial Australia where traditional building materials were scarce.

By 1880, Lysaght was exporting enough corrugated iron to Australia to establish a central selling agency in Melbourne. The company exported ORB-branded corrugated iron, along with a cheaper version called Redcliffe, in large quantities to Australia. A Globe brand was produced for American and African markets.

World War I disrupted imports and highlighted the need for local Australian manufacturing. Within three months of the war commencing, John Lysaght's nephew Herbert Royse Lysaght arranged to purchase 24 acres of land in Newcastle, NSW, adjacent to a site owned by BHP. In 1917, John Lysaght (Australia) Pty Ltd was incorporated. In April 1921, the new Lysaght company commenced manufacturing at its purpose-built Newcastle facility, and the first Australian sheet was rolled and galvanized.

In 1936, Lysaght purchased the sheet mill and galvanizing works of Australian Iron & Steel at Port Kembla. In 1939, in a joint venture with American Rolling Mills, the Commonwealth Rolling Mills was opened at Port Kembla. Lysaght bought out the American Rolling Mills share in 1947.

In 1961, Lysaght became a public company with 20% of shares sold to the public. BHP purchased a 24% shareholding in 1969, and in 1970 BHP and GKN took over the business, each owning 50%. In 1971, Lysaght acquired the steel building products division of Brownbuilt, renaming it Lysaght Brownbuilt Industries. In 1979, Lysaght became a 100% subsidiary of BHP.

Between 1987 and 1999, the brand underwent multiple rebrandings: Lysaght Building Industries, Lysaght Building Products, BHP Building Products, and BHP Steel Lysaght. In 2002, BHP Steel was spun off from BHP Billiton and listed on the ASX, later rebranding as BlueScope Steel. The Lysaght brand became BlueScope Lysaght before reverting to Lysaght in 2013.

Lysaght celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2007 and its 100th anniversary of Australian manufacturing in 2021. The brand has continued to expand its product range and maintain its position as one of Australia's leading building products brands, with innovations including CUSTOM ORB corrugated cladding, KLIP-LOK concealed-fix cladding, and BONDEK composite steel formwork.

About BlueScope Steel Limited

What does BlueScope Steel own?
BlueScope Steel owns a portfolio of steel manufacturing facilities and building products brands across Australia, New Zealand, North America, and Asia. Its most recognized brands include COLORBOND steel, ZincALUME steel, Lysaght, Orrcon, and Fielders. The company also owns the North Star BlueScope Steel mini-mill in Ohio, USA, and a 1,200-hectare portfolio of surplus and adjacent landholdings.

Is BlueScope Steel publicly traded?
Yes, BlueScope Steel is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol BSL. The company became an independent public entity in 2002 following its spin-off from BHP Steel.

Who founded BlueScope Steel?
BlueScope Steel was created in 2002 through the spin-off of BHP Steel from BHP Billiton. The separation was part of BHP's broader corporate restructuring to focus on its core mining operations. The business traces its heritage to BHP's steel manufacturing operations, which date back to the early 20th century.

Where is BlueScope Steel headquartered?
BlueScope Steel is headquartered in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The company's major manufacturing operations are located at Port Kembla, New South Wales, with additional facilities in New Zealand, the United States, China, and Southeast Asia.

What is BlueScope Steel's revenue?
BlueScope Steel reported FY2025 sales revenue of AUD 16.3 billion from continuing operations, with underlying EBIT of AUD 738 million and underlying NPAT of AUD 421 million. In 1H FY2026, the company reported underlying EBIT of AUD 558 million and reported NPAT of AUD 391 million, a 118% increase on 1H FY2025.

Who owns BlueScope Steel?
BlueScope Steel is publicly owned with no controlling shareholder. Institutional investors, superannuation funds, and individual shareholders across Australia and internationally hold the majority of outstanding shares. No individual, family, or private equity firm holds a controlling interest in the company.

What is BlueScope Steel's market position?
BlueScope Steel is Australia's largest steel manufacturer and holds a dominant position in the Australian flat steel market. In the United States, its North Star mini-mill is a significant regional producer. The company is one of the largest steel manufacturers in the Asia Pacific region.

Founded: 2002
Headquarters: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: ASX: BSL
Revenue: AUD 16.3B (FY2025)
Employees: ~16,500

Visit BlueScope Steel Limited website

View full company profile for BlueScope Steel Limited

Where Is Lysaght Made / Based?

Headquarters: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Manufacturing / Operations: Newcastle, NSW, Australia, Multiple roll-forming facilities across Australia

Lysaght Categories & Tags

Steel Building Products Construction Roofing Corrugated Iron Australian Brand Bluescope

Lysaght Sustainability & Ethics

Lysaght operates under BlueScope Steel's sustainability framework. BlueScope has been recognized as a World Steel Association Sustainability Champion for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), demonstrating leadership in steel industry sustainability.

Decarbonization: BlueScope has committed to significant decarbonization investments, with total estimated capital investment of A$300-400 million by 2030. Over 40% of allocated capital has been directed to support decarbonization programs. BlueScope participates in worldsteel climate action and life cycle inventory programs.

ResponsibleSteel Certification: BlueScope's Western Port Works has achieved ResponsibleSteel site certification, demonstrating adherence to responsible steel production standards covering environmental, social, and governance criteria.

Environmental Product Declarations: Lysaght products have updated Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) that provide transparent environmental performance data for building products, enabling architects and builders to assess the environmental impact of their material choices.

Product Sustainability: Lysaght building products contribute to sustainable construction through their long lifespan, recyclability, and role in energy-efficient building design. Steel products are fully recyclable at end-of-life, supporting circular economy principles. The use of BlueScope's COLORBOND and ZINCALUME coatings extends product life and reduces the need for replacement.

Local Manufacturing: Lysaght's commitment to Australian manufacturing, with all products made from Australian-made BlueScope steel, reduces transportation-related emissions compared to imported building products and supports local employment. The brand's 100 years of continuous Australian manufacturing represents a counter-trend to the offshoring that has characterized much of Australian manufacturing.

Lysaght Recalls & Controversies

Lysaght has maintained a strong operational record with no major product recalls or significant brand-specific controversies reported. The brand benefits from BlueScope Steel's quality control systems and testing protocols, including NATA-accredited facility testing.

Steel Industry Environmental Impact: The steel industry faces ongoing scrutiny regarding carbon emissions and environmental impact. Steel production is energy-intensive, and BlueScope's Port Kembla Steelworks is a significant industrial emitter. BlueScope has addressed these concerns through its decarbonization investments and ResponsibleSteel certification, but the fundamental environmental footprint of steelmaking remains a challenge for all steel industry participants, including Lysaght as a downstream user of BlueScope steel.

Imported Steel Competition: The Australian building products market has seen increased competition from imported steel products, particularly from China and other Asian manufacturers. Imported products are often priced below Australian-made alternatives, creating competitive pressure on Lysaght. Concerns have been raised about the quality, durability, and compliance of some imported steel building products with Australian building codes and standards. Lysaght has positioned its Australian-made heritage and BlueScope quality assurance as competitive advantages against lower-cost imports.

Construction Industry Safety: The building products industry has faced increased attention to product safety and compliance, particularly following incidents involving building material failures in other construction sectors (such as the cladding fires that prompted reviews of building material standards). Lysaght has maintained compliance with Australian building codes and standards, and its products' fire performance has been tested and certified.

Lysaght Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Over 165 years of brand heritage dating to John Lysaght's 1857 founding in Bristol, England, with 100 years of continuous Australian manufacturing since 1921
+Integration with BlueScope Steel's proprietary COLORBOND and ZINCALUME steel technologies, which are widely specified by Australian architects and builders
+National distribution network across Australia with manufacturing and distribution facilities in all major states
+Strong brand recognition among Australian builders, architects, and contractors, with products like CUSTOM ORB considered iconic in Australian construction
+BlueScope Steel's FY2024 revenue of approximately A$18.6 billion provides financial stability and R&D investment capacity
+All products made from 100% Australian-made BlueScope steel, providing quality assurance and supply chain transparency

Considerations

-Dependence on Australian construction industry cycles, which are subject to interest rate movements, housing market fluctuations, and government infrastructure spending
-Competition from lower-cost imported steel building products, particularly from Asian manufacturers
-Exposure to steel price volatility affecting raw material costs, though integration with BlueScope provides some hedge
-The Australian construction market is geographically concentrated, limiting international growth opportunities
-Relatively small scale (approximately A$70 million revenue, 117 employees) limits independent investment capacity
-Regulatory requirements for building standards, fire safety, and environmental compliance add cost and complexity

Frequently Asked Questions About Lysaght

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Lysaght

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
FieldersSister Brand	Bluescope Steel	Australia	1900	Mass market	Asia pacific	All Genders
OrrconSister Brand	Bluescope Steel	Australia	2000	Premium	Regional	All-ages
BlueScope Steel ProductsSister Brand	Bluescope Steel	Australia	2002	Mass market	Asia pacific	Unisex