1885 - Broken Hill Proprietary Company founded as a silver and lead mine at Broken Hill in western NSW. Company lists on what is now the Australian Securities Exchange.
2001 - BHP merges with Anglo-Dutch miner Billiton Plc, with the combined business listed both in London and Sydney. Changes logo to present four-blob symbol.
2014 - BHP Billiton spins off some of its aluminium, coal, manganese, nickel and silver assets as ASX-listed South32.
2015 - Dam disaster at Samarco joint venture in Brazil kills 19 people and leads to widespread environmental damage.
April 2017 - Hedge fund Elliott Advisors launches public campaign for a significant restructure of BHP Billiton's operations.
May 2017 - BHP Billiton decides to rebrand to BHP.
