Our History
Waterexchange.com.au was an early pioneer in the establishment of Australia’s water markets with a long history of development dating back to 1994.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
SHOW
1994
The Waterexchange commences operations in 1994 and trades as Irrigation Extension Services.
The business offered various water asset management services in the Macquarie Valley of NSW.
1998
The National Waterexchange was formed, and operates as an exchange service for water brokers across the northern river valleys of NSW.
Waterexchange.com.au website launched, as an auction platform and conducts the world’s first online trading of water entitlements.
1999
Name changed to the Waterexchange Pty Ltd
New premises in Dubbo NSW purchased and all technology centrally located.
2000
Operations expanded across entire Murray Darling basin.
1000th trade finalised.
2001
2000th trade finalised
2002
Operational platforms changed to pure exchanged based trading.
Victorian trading commences
2004
First forward water contract trades conducted.
First groundwater trades conducted
2005
New office opened in Canberra ACT
First South Australian trades transacted.
2006 2007
10,000th online trade transacted on exchange based platform since 2002.
2007 2008
8,000 trades transacted in one year.
Drought peaks and leads to all time high temporary allocation price of $1,200 / ML.
2010 2011
Significant rainfall water prices reach low of $4 / ML.
2014 2015
Trading platform upgraded, entitlement auction system launched
Forward allocation and entitlement leases markets launched
2015 2016
5,000 trades transacted in one year.
2016 2017
Business acquired by Ruralco Holdings Ltd
2017 2018
Platform upgraded to accommodate carry over markets and clearing.
2019 2020
Drought across the basin, temporary allocation price reaches $1000 / ML in Oct 2019.
2020 2021
Ruralco Holding Ltd acquired by Nutrien Ltd.
2021 2022
Approval authority portal launched allowing Water Authorities to assess and approve / refuse trades within a secure digital portal.
2022 2023
Customer portal upgraded allowing customers to conduct internal transfers of temporary allocation between their accounts.
2023 2024
Over 700 permanent entitlement trades matched, cleared and settled through the platform