R. W. Miller was an Australian company that had interests in coal mining, pubs and shipping. The company was named after its founder Robert William Miller (1879-1958).
History R. W. Miller was founded in 1923 as a colliery proprietor and coal dealer.New Companies Daily Telegraph 19 July 1923 page 9 It became involved in the coastal coal-carrying trade of New South Wales to convey coal between Newcastle and Sydney.New Colliers Daily Commercial News & Shipping List 1 October 1924 page 4New Collier for Miller & Co Cessnock Eagle & South Maitland Recorder 22 November 1929 page 1RW Miller's New Collier Sydney Morning Herald 6 January 1931 page 13
R. W. Miller owned many coal mines in the Hunter Valley. In 1942, a brewery was purchased in Petersham. This was followed by the purchase of many pubs. In 1967, the Miller's Brewery was sold to Tooheys, followed by the pubs in 1968.RW Miller profit eases, despite big cut in provisions Canberra Times 6 October 1967 page 15Brewery sale to Tooheys…Miller Gives Clue - $2.9m? Canberra Times 18 November 1967 page 14Miller to get offer for hotels Canberra Times 30 April 1968 page 17
In the late-1960s and early-1970s, TNT, Ampol and Howard Smith built up substantial shareholdings with takeover offers by the latter two resulting in a protracted takeover battle resulting in an important legal case and subsequent appeal to the Privy council, Howard Smith Ltd v Ampol Petroleum Ltd.TNT / Alltrans' growing interest in ship services Truck & Bus Transportation April 1969 page 25Ampol bids $14.5m for shares in R. W. Miller Canberra Times 23 May 1972 page 15H Smith formal offer for Miller Canberra Times 18 August 1972 page 11 In 1979, Howard Smith's shareholding was increased to 67% in 1979 when it acquired Ampol's shareholding and in February 1985 it took 100% ownership. In 1988, R. W. Miller merged with Coal & Allied.Coal & Allied Rebuilds in Hunter Australian Financial Review 30 September 1988
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