It derives from the British Black Orpington, and was selectively bred for egg-laying performance; some hens lay more than 300 eggs per year.

[10] The original stock used in the development of the Australorp was imported to Australia from England out of the Black Orpington yards of William Cook and Joseph Partington in the period from 1890 to the early 1900s with Rhode Island Red.

Local breeders used this stock together with judicious out-crossings of Minorca, White Leghorn and Langshan blood to improve the utility features of the imported Orpingtons.

The origin of the name "Australorp" seems to be shrouded in as much controversy as the attempts to obtain agreement between the States over a suitable national Standard.

The earliest claim to the name was made by one of poultry fancy's institutions, Wiliam Wallace Scott, before the First World War.

A further overseas claim to the name came from Britain's W. Powell-Owen who drafted the British Standard for the breed in 1921 following the importation of the "Australian Utility Black Orpingtons".

Such performances had importation orders flooding in from England, United States of America, South Africa, Canada and Mexico.