British Phosphate Commissioners
BPC · British Phosphate Commission
1920 – 1981
Joint commission of the United Kingdom, Australian and New Zealand governments that mined phosphate on Nauru and Ocean Island (Banaba) and shipped it to Australian and New Zealand farmers as cheap fertiliser; from 1949 it also managed Christmas Island phosphate mining.
How it came into existence
Constituted under the Nauru Island Agreement of 1919 between the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand (approved in Australia by the Nauru Island Agreement Act 1919); the three commissioners took over the Pacific Phosphate Company's Nauru and Ocean Island operations in 1920.
Legislation: Nauru Island Agreement Act 1919
Changes during its life
- 1949Became managing agent for the new Christmas Island Phosphate Commission.
- 1 July 1970Nauru's phosphate industry was transferred to the Nauru Phosphate Corporation after Nauru bought out the commissioners' interests.
- 1979Phosphate mining on Ocean Island (Banaba) ended.
How it ended
Wound up as its operations ended: Nauru's phosphate industry passed to the Nauru Phosphate Corporation in 1970, Ocean Island mining ceased in 1979, and its management of Christmas Island mining passed to the Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island in 1981.
- Management of Christmas Island phosphate mining
Main functions
- Phosphate mining on Nauru (to 1970)
- Phosphate mining on Ocean Island (Banaba) (to 1979)
- Managing agent for Christmas Island phosphate mining (1949–1981)
- Shipping and sale of phosphate to Australia and New Zealand
Lineage
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Sources
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.