On the 08th of August 1844, William Milne and David Sime Cargill founded “Milne and Company”, a general warehouse business in the heart of Colombo, Fort. In 1850, the company was renamed “Milne Cargills & Co”, with the head office located in Fort and two other branches in Kandy and Galle. 1860 marked the retirement of William Milne from the business as he returned to Glasgow to establish a commercial enterprise in his homeland. Following Milne’s retirement, D. S. Cargill took sole ownership of the company until he was joined by David Mackenzie. The change in leadership led to the firm’s title being altered to “Cargill & Co”, with both Cargill and Mackenzie at the helm.
In 1890, the company purchased the goodwill and shares of “Medical Hall” from Maitland & Co.
Ltd. and became primarily chemists and druggists. A few years on, the company was rebranded
as “Sime & Co” to cater more towards the mass market.
The organization would go on to be formally registered as a Limited Liability Company in
1896, with David Sime Cargill as Chairman. The business was thereafter extended to Nuwara
Eliya.
In 1902, renovations to the renowned Cargills Headquarters were completed and the building
was transformed into an upmarket department store which served mostly the affluent.
In 1904, David Sime Cargill passed away and his many estates were converted to private
limited companies. With the patriarch of Cargills gone, Walter Hamilton assumed duties as
Chairman until his own death in 1927, with a long line of capable General Managers to
support him.
In 1890, the company purchased the goodwill and shares of “Medical Hall” from Maitland & Co.
Ltd. and became primarily chemists and druggists. A few years on, the company was rebranded
as “Sime & Co” to cater more towards the mass market.
The organization would go on to be formally registered as a Limited Liability Company in
1896, with David Sime Cargill as Chairman. The business was thereafter extended to Nuwara
Eliya.
In 1902, renovations to the renowned Cargills Headquarters were completed and the building
was transformed into an upmarket department store which served mostly the affluent.
In 1904, David Sime Cargill passed away and his many estates were converted to private
limited companies. With the patriarch of Cargills gone, Walter Hamilton assumed duties as
Chairman until his own death in 1927, with a long line of capable General Managers to
support him.
In 1946, the organization was officially incorporated as a Public Limited Liability Company as Cargills (Ceylon) PLC. Over a quarter of a century later in 1981, Ceylon Theatres acquired controlling interest of the Company under the visionary leadership of Albert A. Page, who was appointed the Managing Director and subsequently, Chairman the following year.
The distinctive Cargills building was once the personal residence of Captain Pieter Sluysken, the Dutch commander of the Galle fort as well as the first Governor of Ceylon, Sir Frederick North. Once dubbed the “Harrods of the East” and the “Finest of its kind East of the Suez”, the House of Cargills has been a landmark in Colombo for over a century.
Cargills (Ceylon) PLC
No. 40, York Street, Colombo 01.
Tel : +94 112427777
+94 11 2427500
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