b'From the Zinc Corporation to Rio Tinto The relationship between Rio Tinto and Arthur Robinson &The Zinc Corporations early years were challenging. With Co dates back to the formative years of the global miningno smelters or refineries in Australia to process the zinc, the giant. Rio Tintos Australian antecedents began as thecompany relied on German metal traders to take the zinc Zinc Corporation, formed by a group of entrepreneurs inconcentrates to Germany for smelting before on-sellingMelbourne in 1905 to exploit residual zinc concentrationsthe pure zinc. Things began to look more promising in April from the mine tailings of Broken Hill mines. The Zinc1914 when the company signed a contract with German Corporation was part of the Collins House group and itscompany Aron Hirsch & Sohn for the sale of between founders included William Baillieu, Sir Arthur Robinsons300,000 and 400,000 tonnes of crude zinc.older brother, Lionel Robinson and mining engineer Herbert Hoover, who later became the thirty-first president of theThe cause for optimism, however, was short-lived.United States of America. Sir Arthurs younger brother,Britains declaration of war against Germany in 1914 had a William Robinson, was also involved in the formation of thecatastrophic impact on the company. Significantly, the Zinc Zinc Corporation and served as its managing director.Corporation had ships at sea headed for Germany a problem given its new customers were now enemies of the Sir Arthur began providing legal advice to the Zincstate. Although some ships reached their destination, many Corporation while in partnership with William Bruce. Hewere turned back or re routed to Britain. With the loss of its arranged the incorporation of the company in 1905 andprimary customers and no way for the company to smelt the following year managed its listing on the Melbournethe zinc itself, cashflow quickly dried up.Stock Exchange. Within twelve months he had undertaken more than thirty matters for the Zinc Corporation. He joinedIn April 1915 Sir Arthur lodged an application with the its board of directors, and in 1908 became chairman. HeSupreme Court of Victoria to recover the money owed continued to provide legal advice even after the companyby Aron Hirsch & Sohn for the completed deliveries. The headquarters moved to London in 1911. claim succeeded through the Supreme Court, the High Britains declaration of war against Germany in 1914had a catastrophic impact on the company. Significantly,the Zinc Corporation had ships at sea headed for Germanya problem given its new customers were now classifiedas enemies of the state. 90'