Wellard was founded in Italy in the 1950s, primarily trading livestock between Europe and the Middle East, and expanded to Australia in the 1980s.
Key milestones in Wellard’s evolution:
| Date |
Event |
| 1950 |
- Emilio Balzarini establishes livestock businesses in Europe
|
| 1979 |
- First shipment from Australia on the MV El Podrero
|
| 1980 |
- Wellard establishes a permanent presence in Australia, primarily exporting sheep to the Middle East
|
| 2002 |
- Launch of the world’s largest purpose-built livestock carrier (MV Ocean Drover)
|
| 2004 |
- Expansion into exporting live cattle to South East Asia
|
| 2009 |
- Delivery of two mid-sized vessels, the MV Ocean Swagman and MV Ocean Outback
- Export of beef and dairy breeding cattle to China commenced
|
| 2012 |
- Entered the meat processing and export market through the purchase of Beaufort River Meats to diversify its products
|
| 2013 |
- Further diversification of livestock supply via the expansion of supply centres in North and South America
|
| 2014 |
- Export capacity expansion via the acquisition of MV Ocean Ute
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2016 |
- Added export capacity expansion with the delivery of the MV Ocean Shearer into the fleet
|
| 2017 |
- Wellard completes the Company’s first shipment of prime steers to China and commences asset rationalization program.
|
| 2020 |
- Wellard Ships reduces operations and transitions to a chartering & logistic business.
|
| 2025 |
- With the sale of M/V Ocean Drover in August 2025, Wellard concluded livestock shipping operations and transitioned into a listed holding company focused on completing wind-down operations and maximising shareholder value.
|