A BHP spokesperson confirmed that there were about 400 people in the Collins St headquarters, but that number was expected to drop to about 300 over the coming years due to an “ongoing focus on simplification”
“This number is a planning basis,” the spokesperson said.
“This will be a gradual process over a number of years and includes the movement of BHP Billiton’s Treasury division to London.
“The company is in full compliance with its FIRB commitments.”
The Foreign Investment Review Board made it a condition of BHP’s merger with Billiton in 2001 that the company maintain an Australian head office.
As part of the approval, the company’s CEO and chief financial officer have to reside in Australia and the majority of board meetings need to occur here.
The company said it would consult with its employees through the process.
BHP occupies eight floors of the 18-level 171 Collins building that was opened in late 2013.
The cull follows the demerger of South32 earlier this year in favour of a smaller, more focused BHP with far fewer assets.
