Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd

Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd (ABA) was the subsidiary of CSR Limited that operated the crocidolite (blue asbestos) mine and mill at Wittenoom Gorge in Western Australia from 1943 to 1966. The company extracted, processed, and shipped blue asbestos fiber that was distributed throughout Australia and exported overseas. Wittenoom is now recognized as one of the deadliest industrial sites in Australian history, with thousands of workers and residents, including children, developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Origin

ABA was incorporated in 1943 when CSR Limited (then Colonial Sugar Refining Company) took over mining operations at Wittenoom from Lang Hancock and Peter Wright's earlier venture. The mine closed in 1966 due to unprofitability, not safety concerns, despite internal awareness of the dust hazard dating back decades.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For patients with mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases who lived or worked at Wittenoom, or were exposed to crocidolite products shipped from there, ABA and its parent CSR are central to any compensation claim. Internal CSR documents revealed in litigation showed the company knew of the disease risk yet continued operations and failed to warn workers or residents. Australian courts have awarded substantial damages against CSR for ABA-related exposures, and a dedicated compensation scheme exists for Wittenoom victims. Crocidolite from Wittenoom was also incorporated into products like Baryulgil-area cement sheeting and exported industrial materials, so exposure histories may trace back to ABA even for people who never visited the mine.

Example Sentence

Her father worked as a fitter at the Wittenoom mill in the 1950s, and her lawyers are pursuing CSR as the parent of Australian Blue Asbestos Pty Ltd for his mesothelioma diagnosis.

Related Terms

Wittenoom, Crocidolite, CSR Limited, Mesothelioma, Lang Hancock, Pilbara

Notes

• If you or a family member lived, worked, or visited Wittenoom, gather any documentation (employment records, photographs, school records, town residence records) as these are central to ABA/CSR claims.
• Wittenoom exposures include not only miners and millers but also their families (take-home exposure), townspeople, and children who played in crocidolite tailings used on roads, playgrounds, and racetracks; mention any such history to your legal team.
• Ask your physician to specifically document any known or suspected Wittenoom or crocidolite exposure in your medical records, as fiber type (crocidolite is among the most potent for mesothelioma) strengthens causation evidence.
• Australian residents may be eligible under specific state schemes (e.g., the Asbestos Diseases Compensation scheme in WA) in addition to common-law claims against CSR; consult a lawyer experienced in Wittenoom cases.
• If exposure occurred outside Australia through exported Wittenoom crocidolite, product-identification and shipping records may be needed to link your exposure back to ABA.