Mitre 10 Cup

Mitre 10 was started in Melbourne, Australia in 1959 as a local co-operative, with the initial 8 independent operators pooling their resources for shared advertising and promotion. Separate state-based companies were formed in the years following. An overall licensing company was established in 1964.

The co-operative concept became known to New Zealand hardware shop owners, and on 28 June 1974 the New Zealand Herald reported "some of the smaller firms in the timber and hardware merchandising field are grouping together to present a unified buying and selling front." The first member's meeting in 1974 consisted of twelve members representing fifteen stores.^[]

In the late 1980s the chain expanded its to include home and garden products. In 1994 the "Mitre 10 Home and Trade" brand was established. Two brand names (Hammer Hardware, Mitre 10 Mega) further expanded the Mitre 10 presence in both the small and large towns and cities. There were 50 Mitre 10 stores in 1999, 113 in 2003 and 83 in 2019.

In 2010 Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited took full ownership of the Mitre 10 brands for New Zealand after changes to the ownership of the Mitre 10 operation in Australia. Despite sharing the same heritage, the modern operations in New Zealand and Australia are separate.