1890
State-wide firm Wise and Inglis commenced practice with offices in Hobart and Launceston.
A long legacy in Tasmania
We take great pride in our heritage – an independent Tasmanian firm established in 1890 with a reputation for excellence, a legacy of knowledge and a history of supporting local organisations and families.
We have continued to grow over more than 125 years, and our firm has been shaped by many dedicated team members and Partners. From our early days working with some emerging Tasmanian businesses, many of whom we still support today, through to current times we have had a focus on contributing to the broad fabric of our home state of Tasmania. A small, yet influential start in 1890 has expanded to a Partnership of 12 and a team of over 70 specialist professionals, all based in Tasmania.
The timeline below provides a brief snapshot into some key touchpoints in our firm's history.
1901
Mr Henry Joshua Wise held the role of Vice-President with the Tasmanian Institute of Accountants. It was during his tenure as Vice-President that Mr Wise signed the Certificate of Qualification for a young Mr Charles Edward Hamilton Ferguson of Launceston, recognising he had passed the Intercolonial Examination and admitting him…Read More
1921
The Partnership of Wise Lord & Ferguson was formed. H J Wise was joined by John Lord from the Hobart Savings Bank and C E H Ferguson from Launceston. On 24 October of this year, the Companies Auditors’ Board granted H J Wise Licence No.1 to act as an Auditor…Read More
1920
From the early days Wise Lord & Ferguson had a significant number of large Tasmanian based businesses among its audit clients. These included Cadburys, 1920s Australian Newsprint Mills, 1939 Cascade Brewery Co, 1920s George Adams Estate Roberts Ltd, 1920s Nettlefolds, 1920s Hobart Savings Bank, 1920s Hobart Gas Co, 1920s Perpetual…Read More
1940
During and after World War II, income tax and probate duty became a preoccupation for many of the firm’s clients. Advertising was undertaken in The Mercury newspaper for more staff, and a new division was established to meet this need – the Business Services Group. Now known as Business and…Read More
1941
Ms Ilma Lisson joined Wise Lord & Ferguson and was the first female Chartered Accountant in Tasmania. Ms Lisson stayed with the firm until 1962. In 2017 the Institute of Chartered Accountants featured Ms Lisson in an article in their magazine, profiling her groundbreaking career and her recent admission as…Read More
1960
Wise Lord & Ferguson merged with, and acquired, accounting firm Adams and Bennetto. Mr A W Adams had started practice in 1910 and Mr C A Bennetto had started in 1919. The relationship between the two firms had originated through Mr Ferguson and Mr Adams, both of whom were auditors…Read More
1963
Wise Lord & Ferguson moved from the original offices, in the AMP Building on of Elizabeth and Collins Street, Hobart. The AMP Building was constructed in 1884 and had a sandstone facade and figurehead typical of Victorian-era architecture. A redevelopment in 1913 featured a striking sandstone arch as the entrance.The…Read More
1994
Wise Lord & Ferguson moved to 160 Collins Street Hobart, only two blocks from the firm’s original location, in 1994. This address remains the location of the firm today.
1999
Business Review Weekly released their listing of the top 100 accounting firms in Australia. Wise Lord & Ferguson was ranked as Tasmanian’s largest independent accounting firm and at number 59 nationally.
2015
Wise Lord & Ferguson was rebranded to WLF Accounting & Advisory – a dynamic and contemporary practice built on a foundation of more than 120 years of excellence and service to the Tasmanian community. This same year, WLF entered into a joint-venture financial services company, UNICA Wealth Pty Ltd.
2019
WLF is still proudly Tasmanian, providing support, service and employment to our home state. Our records dating back to 1928 show over 760 Tasmanians have worked at our firm, and with records prior to this time being incomplete we know the number is certainly substantially larger. We continue our commitment…Read More
Throughout the years the firm’s Partners have held influential roles in the Tasmanian community.
Our Partners, past and present, are:
| Name | Years | Name | Years |
| H J Wise | 1890 - 1940 | R P Whitehouse | 1985 - 2008 |
| J T Wertheimer | 1923 - 1960 | Harvey Gibson | 1986 - 2019 |
| M O Brink | 1923 - 1964 | Danny McCarthy | 1989 - 2022 |
| J Lord | 1925 - 1956 | P J Cook | 1993 - 1996 |
| C E H Ferguson | 1925 - 1958 | P J Thompson | 1996 - 2003 |
| H W Woolley | 1947 - 1964 | Douglas Thomson | 2000 - |
| O G D Groom | 1953 - 1986 | Joanne Doyle | 2000 - |
| R B Brownrigg | 1954 - 1957 | Stuart Clutterbuck | 2000 - 2021 |
| A K Wertheimer | 1955 - 1969 | Ian Wheeler | 2005 - 2021 |
| J R Geary | 1960 - 1963 | Dean Johnson | 2009 - |
| M E Siddall | 1963 - 1986 | Marg Marshall | 2009 - |
| R E Thomas | 1963 - 1970 | Paul Lyons | 2012 - |
| J N Bridge | 1963 - 1985 | Alicia Leis | 2013 - |
| R H Ikin | 1966 - 1979 | Nick Carter | 2013 - |
| J B Robson | 1966 - 1969 | Simon Jones | 2016 - |
| W S McKay | 1969 - 1974 | Maryellen Salter | 2019 - |
| P L Williams | 1974 - 1987 | Rebecca Meredith | 2021 - |
| B A Palfreyman | 1974 - 2005 | Chase McConnon | 2022 - |
| M D Groom | 1979 - 2004 | Oliver Barta | 2024 - |
| P T Beven | 1981 - 2013 |