About Us
Ni Sa Bula, Namaste and Welcome to Colonial Fiji.
Colonial is an Allfinanz group that has been operating in Fiji for over 130 years.
December 2009 BSP buys Colonial. Now part of Bank South Pacific Group.
July 2009 Bank of South Pacific announced their interest to acquire Colonial Fiji Group of companies.
June 2009 Restructuring of the Colonial Life & Health and Group Operations division comes into effect on 1 June 2009.
Jan 2006 The Commonwealth Banking Group of Australia (CBA) purchased 49% of Fiji Government shares for F$28 million to obtain 100% ownership of Colonial National Bank.
Dec 2005 New Suva Central building opened by the Prime Minister of Fiji. This was a joint venture between Colonial and the Motibhai Group.
2003 Colonial sponsored the South Pacific Games and launched new sub brands to the group Colonial brand.
Dec 1999 Domestication for Colonial business in Fiji. New name being Colonial Fiji Life Limited.
Oct 1999 - Launched Colonial First State Investments and a suite of three unit trusts
Oct 1999 - Launched the very first Colonial EasyBank ATM at the Market Branch
Aug 1999 Re-launched the Colonial National Bank with new look offices and new uniforms for the Colonial family
June 1999 Launched HealthCare Pacific, a Joint Venture with Mayne-Nickless of Australia - one of the world's biggest health providers, Fijian Holdings and Unit Trust of Fiji
March 1999 Completed the Vision and Values workshop for over 700 personnel.
February 1999 Purchased 51% shares of the then National Bank of Fiji
May 1998 New Colonial logo with "heart" launched.
Jan 1998 Work commenced on Colonial Offices to standardise look.
19 May 1997 Colonial listing as a Public Company on the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchange.
Dec 1996 Colonial officially demutualises.
8 Nov 1996 Scheme Meeting held in Fiji at the Suva Civic Centre where 98% of members voted for demutualisation. Fiji had the biggest turn out compared to other Voting Centres (New Zealand and Australia). Meeting was held via Satellite transmission from Melbourne.
1996 Colonial Fiji went through Demutualisation process, changing from a demutual society to a shareholding company.
15 Mar 1991 Group Board approves Acquisition of Blue Shield.
1990 Project work commenced for the acquisition of Blue Shield (Pacific) Ltd. - Team led by Tom Vuetilovoni with Sialeni Vuetaki as Project Manager. Significant work undertaken by Yen Thomson of Group Development, and, Charlie Cahn and Janet Lockett of JMHI, Wellginton.
1 Jan 1974 Colonial establishes Sales Unit in Labasa.
1 Jan 1973 Colonial establishes a Sales Unit in Lautoka.
Dec 1965 The new CML Building was completed. The CML Office closed for business in Millett's Building on Saturday, 4 December and reopened in the new offices on the first floor of the CML Building on Tuesday, 14 December 1965, when his excellency the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, officially declared the building open. The CML office at this stage consisted of about 11 Office Staff and 10 Field Staff.
November 1963 Central Buildings was demolished and this was followed by the erection of the new CML Building.
January 1960 The Society bought the present site of the CML Building, which was then occupied by Central Buildings, this was an old timbered two-storey building which was erected in 1914 by Marlows Limited.
1938 New Zealand Branch assumed authority over the Society's interests in Fiji (control having previously been exercised through Sydney).
1929 Morris Hedstrom and Company became the Agents in Suva.
From 1915 to 1923 the Society's reports do not mention the existence of any office representative whatsoever. This was undoubtedly a period of transition in the Society's Fijian affairs.
In its first three years forty three policies were issued, the total annual premium £669.17.2, £7,000 sum assured was written in the first year, £7,300 in the second and £2,900 in the third.
16.01.1877 The First Policy no. 8801 was issued, a whole of life policy for £500 on the life of Barrister, Joseph Hector Garrick but was backdated to 16 November 1876 (perhaps Mr Garrick's birthday). The life assured being thirty seven years old at entry. Mr Garrick died on 23 February 1908.
16.11.1876 First Policy written on the life of a Barrister, Joseph Hector Garrick.
A local Committee was formed to superintend the Society in Fiji. Members were Mr J Herman de Ricci (Chairman), Mr Charles W Drury, the American Vice-Consul, Mr George Smith, a Levuka Merchant, and Mr George Morgan, a local resident of Levuka was appointed the First Resident Secretary. Hon. J Herman de Ricci served only one year as a member of the Committee.
1876 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited opened its first overseas Branch in Fiji (two years after Cession).
1874 Historical visit to the Fiji Islands by Mr J G L Innes, Chairman of the Society's Management Committee in New South Wales and also Attorney General in that Colony. Was accompanied by the Governor General of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson for the ceremony at Nasova, Levuka, which commemorated the cession to the British Crown of the Fiji Islands. Mr Innes actually read the Deed of Cession in English at the ceremony and was later knighted for his part in this important page of history.
1873 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited was founded in Melbourne, Australia by T Jaques Martin. This was the time which followed the great gold rushes which had led to an overwhelming increase in the Victorian population.
In the following years branches were opened in most of the other Australian States (or Colonies as they were in those days).
Colonial is an Allfinanz group that has been operating in Fiji for over 130 years.
December 2009 BSP buys Colonial. Now part of Bank South Pacific Group.
July 2009 Bank of South Pacific announced their interest to acquire Colonial Fiji Group of companies.
June 2009 Restructuring of the Colonial Life & Health and Group Operations division comes into effect on 1 June 2009.
Jan 2006 The Commonwealth Banking Group of Australia (CBA) purchased 49% of Fiji Government shares for F$28 million to obtain 100% ownership of Colonial National Bank.
Dec 2005 New Suva Central building opened by the Prime Minister of Fiji. This was a joint venture between Colonial and the Motibhai Group.
2003 Colonial sponsored the South Pacific Games and launched new sub brands to the group Colonial brand.
Dec 1999 Domestication for Colonial business in Fiji. New name being Colonial Fiji Life Limited.
Oct 1999 - Launched Colonial First State Investments and a suite of three unit trusts
Oct 1999 - Launched the very first Colonial EasyBank ATM at the Market Branch
Aug 1999 Re-launched the Colonial National Bank with new look offices and new uniforms for the Colonial family
June 1999 Launched HealthCare Pacific, a Joint Venture with Mayne-Nickless of Australia - one of the world's biggest health providers, Fijian Holdings and Unit Trust of Fiji
March 1999 Completed the Vision and Values workshop for over 700 personnel.
February 1999 Purchased 51% shares of the then National Bank of Fiji
May 1998 New Colonial logo with "heart" launched.
Jan 1998 Work commenced on Colonial Offices to standardise look.
19 May 1997 Colonial listing as a Public Company on the Australian and New Zealand Stock Exchange.
Dec 1996 Colonial officially demutualises.
8 Nov 1996 Scheme Meeting held in Fiji at the Suva Civic Centre where 98% of members voted for demutualisation. Fiji had the biggest turn out compared to other Voting Centres (New Zealand and Australia). Meeting was held via Satellite transmission from Melbourne.
1996 Colonial Fiji went through Demutualisation process, changing from a demutual society to a shareholding company.
15 Mar 1991 Group Board approves Acquisition of Blue Shield.
1990 Project work commenced for the acquisition of Blue Shield (Pacific) Ltd. - Team led by Tom Vuetilovoni with Sialeni Vuetaki as Project Manager. Significant work undertaken by Yen Thomson of Group Development, and, Charlie Cahn and Janet Lockett of JMHI, Wellginton.
1 Jan 1974 Colonial establishes Sales Unit in Labasa.
1 Jan 1973 Colonial establishes a Sales Unit in Lautoka.
Dec 1965 The new CML Building was completed. The CML Office closed for business in Millett's Building on Saturday, 4 December and reopened in the new offices on the first floor of the CML Building on Tuesday, 14 December 1965, when his excellency the Governor, Sir Derek Jakeway, officially declared the building open. The CML office at this stage consisted of about 11 Office Staff and 10 Field Staff.
November 1963 Central Buildings was demolished and this was followed by the erection of the new CML Building.
January 1960 The Society bought the present site of the CML Building, which was then occupied by Central Buildings, this was an old timbered two-storey building which was erected in 1914 by Marlows Limited.
1938 New Zealand Branch assumed authority over the Society's interests in Fiji (control having previously been exercised through Sydney).
1929 Morris Hedstrom and Company became the Agents in Suva.
From 1915 to 1923 the Society's reports do not mention the existence of any office representative whatsoever. This was undoubtedly a period of transition in the Society's Fijian affairs.
In its first three years forty three policies were issued, the total annual premium £669.17.2, £7,000 sum assured was written in the first year, £7,300 in the second and £2,900 in the third.
16.01.1877 The First Policy no. 8801 was issued, a whole of life policy for £500 on the life of Barrister, Joseph Hector Garrick but was backdated to 16 November 1876 (perhaps Mr Garrick's birthday). The life assured being thirty seven years old at entry. Mr Garrick died on 23 February 1908.
16.11.1876 First Policy written on the life of a Barrister, Joseph Hector Garrick.
A local Committee was formed to superintend the Society in Fiji. Members were Mr J Herman de Ricci (Chairman), Mr Charles W Drury, the American Vice-Consul, Mr George Smith, a Levuka Merchant, and Mr George Morgan, a local resident of Levuka was appointed the First Resident Secretary. Hon. J Herman de Ricci served only one year as a member of the Committee.
1876 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited opened its first overseas Branch in Fiji (two years after Cession).
1874 Historical visit to the Fiji Islands by Mr J G L Innes, Chairman of the Society's Management Committee in New South Wales and also Attorney General in that Colony. Was accompanied by the Governor General of New South Wales, Sir Hercules Robinson for the ceremony at Nasova, Levuka, which commemorated the cession to the British Crown of the Fiji Islands. Mr Innes actually read the Deed of Cession in English at the ceremony and was later knighted for his part in this important page of history.
1873 The Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Limited was founded in Melbourne, Australia by T Jaques Martin. This was the time which followed the great gold rushes which had led to an overwhelming increase in the Victorian population.
In the following years branches were opened in most of the other Australian States (or Colonies as they were in those days).
