Directorate,etc

Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ld
16 December 1999


                        BHP BOARD APPOINTMENT                             

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) today announced the
appointment to the BHP Board of Ben Alberts, a former Executive Director of
Iscor Limited and Managing Director of its mining division.

Iscor Limited is a South African-based integrated resources company producing
and marketing steel products, coal, iron ore, base metals and industrial
minerals. Mr Alberts was Managing Director of Iscor Mining from 1995 to March
1999 and was also responsible for the division's new business initiatives and
exploration activities outside of South Africa. 

Announcing the appointment, BHP Chairman Don Argus said the Board was
delighted to secure the services of Mr Alberts who has extensive international
business experience and familiarity with the Australian resources industry.

Prior to being appointed Managing Director of Iscor Mining, Mr Alberts, a
resident of South Africa, was Divisional General Manager (Mining) at Iscor and
was responsible for all of the Company's mining activities.  He was also
previously Chairman of Iscor Australia, Hope Downs Management Services Board
(Australia) and a director of the Ticor Board of Directors (Australia).

Mr Argus said: 'We have committed to broadening the expertise of the BHP
Board and Ben Alberts' appointment is a further step in that direction. He has
had a distinguished career as Executive Director and Managing Director of a
mining division for a large international company.'  

Mr Alberts joins the BHP Board effective 1 January 2000.



For more information:

Media Relations:            Mandy Frostick, Manager Media Relations
                            BHP Group 
                            Tel:    [phone]



ALBERTS, Barend (Ben) Christiaan

Director BHP 2000

Career

Director BHP, 2000; Managing Director Iscor Mining, a division of Iscor
Limited, 1995-99; Executive Director, 1993;  Divisional General Manager
(Mining), 1981;  Project Leader Grootegeluk Coal Mine, 1975;  Mine Manager
Grasvally Chrome Mine, Amcor, 1971;  various mining positions at Thabazimbi
iron ore mine, Iscor Limited, 1965;  Technical Trainee, 1963.

Other Directorships

Xinergistix, Chairman;  Graphic Mining Solutions International, Director; 
Game Farming and Ecotourism Joint Venture, Chairman; University of Pretoria,
Chairman.

Previous Directorships

Hope Downs Management Services Board (Australia), Chairman;  Ticor Ltd
(Australia), Director;  Imcor Tin (Namibia), Chairman;  Imcor Zinc (Namibia),
Chairman;  Zincor Ltd, Director;  Macsteel International, Director;  Iscor
International, Director;  Iscor Australia, Chairman.


Committees, industry bodies & professional associations

Member of Council of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
(President 1987-88);  Member of the University of Pretoria's (UP) Advisory
Council of Department of Mining Engineering;  Chairman of Standing Committee
of UP Council;  Member of Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (Afrikaans Chamber of
Commerce).

Personal

Born: Pretoria, South Africa, 1939
Education:  Mine Managers Certificate of Competency (Coal Mines), 1970;  South
African Council for Engineering, Registered Professional Engineer, 1969;  Mine
Managers Certificate of Competency (Metalliferous Mines), 1968;  University of
Pretoria, B. Sc. Eng (Mining), 1965;  University of Pretoria, B. Sc. Eng
(Agriculture), 1963.
Spouse:  Ansie van der Wath
Children: 3 sons and 3 daughters
Recreation:  golf, rugby and cricket