Thursday, 16 June 2011 18:45

Businesswriters & Design recently donated a collection of over 200 annual reports dating back to 1990 to the State Library of New South Wales, including some from blue-chip ASX-listed companies like IAG, Challenger Financial Services, Ridley Corporation, Caltex Australia, Unwired and GrainCorp.

The collection of annual reports represents a fascinating if not somewhat forgotten insight into a period of Australia’s corporate history. They were uncovered in a recent clean-out of Businesswriters & Design’s archives in preparation for our imminent relocation from our long-time home on Sydney’s North Shore to the CBD.

“Australian history books are peppered with details of significant political, social and economic events, but we often forget that business enterprises make history too, and corporate history is often left undocumented,” said Derryn Heilbuth, founder and managing director of Businesswriters & Design.

“The annual reports we have donated to the NSW State Library provide a great insight into some of the highs and lows of Australian corporate history over the past two decades, with some of the companies no longer even in existence, having either been acquired by others, or gone into receivership,” Ms Heilbuth said.