The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, BHP Co. Ltd., BHP, also known as "the Big Australian", is incorporated in 1885, operating the silver and lead mine at Broken Hill in western New South Wales, Australia.

The Broken Hill group floats on 10 August 1885.

The first consignment of Broken Hill ore (48 tons, 5 cwt, 3grs) is smelted at the Intercolonial Smelting and Refining Company's works at Spotswood, Melbourne.