Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited was incorporated on 21 January, 1903 having previously traded as two separate companies - Pattinson and Co. and Washington H. Soul and Co.

The first public offering of shares was in December, 1902 and Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited was listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange (now the Australian Stock Exchange) on 21 January, 1903.

Over 100 Years as a Listed Public Company

When Caleb Soul and his son Washington opened their first store at 177 Pitt Street, Sydney, in 1872 neither of them could have envisaged that some 130 years later their single pharmacy would have evolved into a company as prominent and diversified as Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Company Limited.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson is one of the few successful public companies that has been managed by the same family from the outset - and therein lies the key to its strength.

Its leadership has been grounded in successive family members who value the history of the company, yet are able to adapt to changing times and economic conditions.

All have had the ability to spot talented people to fill senior and middle management positions.

In turn, management has always been supported by able, loyal and long-serving staff.

More than 40 employees have worked for the company for over 50 years.

Four generations of the Pattinson family have served the company, as have three generations of the Dixson, Spence, Rowe and Letters families.

Washington H. Soul Pattinson is now a significant investment house with a portfolio encompassing many industries - its traditional field of pharmacy as well as building materials, natural resources, food technology and beverages, equity investments, media and telecommunications, merchant banking and funds management.

Gone are the days when the company was known purely as a chain of chemists.

Here is a collection of photos illustrating the rich history of WHSP. Click on the photo to get a larger image.
	Caleb Soul looking the part of the company founder.
	Pattinson and Co Ltd had six stores by 1890 in Balmain, Newtown, Oxford Street, North Sydney, Redfern and the main store at the intersection of George and Market Streets.
	The LM Pattinson Aerial Ambulance was the first aeroplane in the Royal Flying Doctor Service based in Broken Hill. Lewy Pattinson, who was known for his community and charitable donations, donated the aeroplane in 1940.
	One of the New Hope Corporation's forays into Indonesia was PT Adaro mine which proved to be immensely successful. The mine's production levels are increasing annually.