The origins of our name

The Ord Minnett (pronounced ‘minute’) name stems from its founders, Charles Ord and Jack Minnett, who met during the Second World War in the Australian Imperial Force.

In 1939, Ord was a commanding officer at the Sydney base when he first met Minnett, a young man 18 years his junior, who had just joined the army. Both men were posted to Darwin during the war before being deployed separately, with Ord being promoted to lieutenant colonel and sent to Sydney and Fremantle, while Minnett was posted to East Timor as an administrator and district officer.

Despite their wartime camaraderie, both men had worked in the finance sector prior to their time in the Force, with Ord a banker and Minnett a stockbroker. Once back into the workforce post-war, Charles Ord and Jack Minnett ran into each other by chance in Sydney’s O’Connell Street, where stockbrokers in Sydney were based.

During this time, Ord said to Minnett, “You’re going to lose me as a client.” Minnett asked, “Have I done something wrong?” Ords responded, “No, it’s just that I’m starting my own business and I’d like you to join me.” And so, in 1951, Charles A Ord & Minnett was formed.

Our journey through the years