In 1898 an English liability company Robert Reid and Company Limited was formed with Hon. Robert Reid as Chairman (till his death in 1904) and co-Director James Wright both based in Melbourne. Robert Mackenzie Reid, Robert's son, an original director, succeeded him as Chairman and remained in London, with James Wright becoming Managing Director in Australia. In 1909, William Edward Bates, a Melbourne solicitor joined the Board, and it appears that he and Robert Reid were primarily responsible for the formation of the new Australian company, registered in Melbourne in March 1919. The company had warehouses in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. The Adelaide house closed in 1928 with Melbourne then responsible for South Australian trade, along with Perth and Tasmania. In 1940 the Brisbane house became a branch of the Sydney house. In 1936 the business of Joseph Pickles and Son (Sydney) was acquired. Restrictions on wholesale importing during World War II forced the company to expand its retail trade, through Hustlers Proprietry Limited. Chairman Robert Mackenzie Reid died in 1942. His son, Robert Wolstenholme Reid, a member of the Board since 1927, became Chairman in 1953. In 1957 the company was merged with David Murray Holdings Limited to form Reid Murray Holdings Limited, with Robert Reid as Chairman. In 1963 it went into liquidation and in 1966 Robert Reid and Company Limited, 'a trading subsidiary' of Reid Murray Holdings Limited was bought by Ralli Brothers and merged with their old established rivals, Paterson, Laing and Bruce Limited to form Paterson, Reid and Bruce Limited.

In 1957 Robert Reid and Company Limited merged with David Murray Holdings Limited to form Reid Murray Holdings Limited, with Robert Reid as Chairman. In 1963 it went into liquidation and in 1966 'a trading subsidiary' of the Company, Robert Reid and Company Limited was bought by Ralli Brothers and merged with Paterson, Laing and Bruce Limited to become Paterson, Reid and Bruce Limited.