The Bell Bay smelter commenced production in 1955 as a joint venture between the Commonwealth and Tasmanian governments.
The smelter was the first built in the Southern Hemisphere primarily to overcome difficulties importing aluminium during wartime.
Bell Bay was chosen as the location because of the available hydroelectric power and deep water facilities.
Rio Tinto Aluminium purchased the smelter in 1960, when production was about 12,000 tonnes per year.
[2] The original potline (Line 1) used British Aluminium Söderberg technology.