Mitre 10
| Company type | Cooperative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail (hardware) |
| Founded | June 29, 1959 in Balwyn, Victoria, Australia |
| Founder | Tom Molomby, Tom Danaher, Reg Buchanan, Jack Womersley, Ian Nisbet, Bill Davey, Bill Wilson |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Hardware and trade supplies |
| Parent | Metcash (since 2012) |
| Website | www |
Mitre 10 is an Australian cooperative network of retail and trade hardware outlets, where individual store proprietors participate as members of the national collective. The brand name is inspired by the mitre joint. Across Australia, there are more than 400 Mitre 10 stores.
History
The cooperative originated on 29 June 1959 when seven individuals—Tom Molomby, Tom Danaher, Reg Buchanan, Jack Womersley, Ian Nisbet, Bill Davey, and Bill Wilson—convened in Balwyn, Victoria. Their objective was to combine efforts in advertising and promotional activities, proving that independent retailers could compete effectively on pricing and service quality.
By February 1961, fifteen retailers from New South Wales had joined the cooperative, followed by seven Queensland members in January 1962 and sixteen more from Newcastle later that year. By 1962, operations were established across the three Eastern states, prompting the formation of state-specific cooperatives in South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.
In June 2004, Mitre 10 introduced its inaugural "big-box" hardware outlet located in Beenleigh, Queensland.
Towards the end of 2008, Woolworths Group engaged in acquisition talks with Mitre 10 but withdrew due to the company’s intricate organizational setup. Subsequently, Mitre 10 entered negotiations with Metcash, which was exploring growth opportunities.
By late 2009, Mitre 10 was actively seeking a significant investor or purchaser. In November of that year, Metcash offered to acquire a 50.1% shareholding for A$55 million with an option to buy the remaining shares by 2013. This proposal received approval from 98% of shareholders in March 2010. Metcash finalized full ownership of Mitre 10 in 2012.
Store types
Mitre 10 functions as a big-box or "destination hardware" retailer aimed at customers undertaking substantial projects. The chain places strong emphasis on customer support, with knowledgeable staff—many possessing trade qualifications—available in departments including plumbing, electrical supplies, building materials, and paint. The first Mitre 10 Mega store was launched in June 2004 at Beenleigh, Queensland.
Stores maintain the classic blue and white color scheme and are independently owned, enabling operators to tailor their offerings with specialized sections such as "GardenCentre" or "TradeCentre."
Sponsorships
Between 1995 and 2000, Mitre 10 held naming rights sponsorship for Larkham Motorsport competing in the Australian Touring Car Championship.