history of design in australia

HISTORY OF DESIGN IN AUSTRALIA

1789 - 2002

YEAR START - END CATEGORY SUMMARY DETAILS

1789 Event Wedgwood medallion fired from Botany Bay clay.

1803 Event Thos. Sheraton writes of Botany Bay wood

1820 Event Webster and Temple, two convicts, make a set of chairs for Governor Macquarie

1827 Organization Hobart Mechanics Institute founded

1827 Event A colonial museum established in Sydney

1833 Organization Sydney Mechanics School of Art founded

1839 Organization Melbourne School of Art founded

1842 1842 - 1843 Event Lady Franklin's Museum "Acanthe" created outside of Hobart.

1847 1847 - 1849 Event Society for Promotion of Fine Arts exhibits in Sydney.

1848 Technology Mittagong iron works established Other iron works follow

1851 Event Australia exhibits in the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London.

1858 Organization Bendigo Pottery founded

1860 Organization Swan River Mechanics Institute Technical Museum established.

1860 Event School of Design opens in Adelaide

1860 1860 circa - Organization Sydney School of Art founded

1862 Event International Art Exhibition held in Mel-bourne

1866 Event Melbourne Exhibition

1870 Organization Artisan's School of Design, Trades Hall, Melbourne, founded.

1878 Organization Workingman's College founded in Sydney

1879 Organization Lithgow Pottery founded

1879 Event Sydney International Exhibition, including "The Ladies Court"

1880 Event Melbourne Exhibition

1880 1880 - 1881 Organization NSW Technological Museum created

1880 Event First telephone exchange opens in Mel-bourne

1881 Person Lucien Henry teaches at Sydney Technology College

French exile

1884 Design Event Kalzoic Society founded in Melbourne Formed to encourage Australian Design

DESIGN TIMELINE


1887 Person John Ruskin appointed picture advisor to the National Gallery of Victoria

1887 Organization Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) founded

1888 Event Melbourne Centennial Exhibition

1889 Event 9 x 5 Exhibition opens in Melbourne

1889 Circa 1889 - Statistic Manufacturing is 12% of GDP

1890 1890 - 1900 Event Car importation and manufacture begins in Australia

1893 Event Bicycle equipped with a motor for the first time in Brisbane

1895 Media 'Arts and Crafts' magazine founded in Melbourne

1901 Event Federal Government official competition for an Australian Flag

Prize was divided among five similar designs. The Australian Blue Ensign was resolved from these. It was officially adopted under the 1953 Flags Act.

1901 Event National floral emblem is the Golden Wattle First proposed in 1891. Sydney established Septem-ber 1st as Wattle Day in 1901. Victoria followed in 1910 and South Australia in 1911.

1901 1901 - 1930 Economy Manufacturing expands in Australia Removal of customs barriers between states and WWI demand were factors.

1901 Event Federation of Australia

1902 Person Harold Desbrowe Annear lectures at Mel-bourne Workingman's College

1903 Organization Tasmanian Arts and Crafts Society founded

1903 Legislation Patents Act 1903

1904 Event Australia's first motorcycle built in Mel-bourne

1905 Legislation Trade Marks Act 1905

1905 Media Form magazine first published in Sweden

1905 Federal Govern-ment

The Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics (CBCS) was established under the Census and Statistics Act

In 1928 the Bureau was relocated to Canberra and in 1932 it moved to the Treasury portfolio.

1906 Event First show on 'Australian Flora Applied to Art' by R T Baker

1906 Person Irene Mort proposes an 'Australian Guild of Handicraft'

1906 Event Australia makes trade agreement with South Africa

Australia's first trade agreement

1906 Event First motor vehicle drivers license in Austra-lia is issued in Adelaide

1906 Legislation Designs Act 1906

1908 Person David Syme (1827-1908) dies Managed Age newspaper for around 50 years. Advo-cate of tariff protection.

1908 Organization Victorian Arts and Crafts Society founded

1910 Event Australian Manufacturers' Day established

1910 Event First flight in a powered aircraft in Australia First controlled powered flight by Eric Weiss (Harry Houdini), Diggers Rest VIC.

1912 Economy First Australian banknotes issued

1912 Event Trans-Australia railway construction begins Opens in 1917

1912 Organisation Commonwealth Bank of Australia formed


1912 Event Australian Coat of Arms designed.

1913 Publication R T Baker's Cabinet Timbers of Australia published

1913 Media Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd (AWA) forms

Amalgamation of Marconi and Australasian Wireless

1914 1914 - 1918 Event WWI Provides lift for young steel industry

1914 1914 - 2001 Person Gordon Andrews - designer Born January 10 in Ashfield, NSW. Died January 17. Designed international trade and cultural exhibi-tions to lift Australia's image and the 1966 decimal banknotes.

1915 1915 - 2001 Person Bill Kennard - designer Born in England. Joined the ABC in 1956. Designed the ABC logo in 1965.

1915 1915 - 1917 Person W B Griffin designs 'Cafe Australia' and 'Newman College, Melbourne'.

1915 Publication 'Australian Flora in Applied Art' published by R T Baker

1915 Organisation Design and Industries Association (DIA) founded in England

Professional association

1916 Publication 'Art in Australia' commences publication. Edited by Sydney Ure Smith

1916 1916 - 1920 Organization Advisory Council of Science and Industry formed

A forerunner of CSIRO

1918 Organisation Commonwealth Board of Trade established Advises government on Australian trade and industry

1919 Event First England to Australia flight Keith and Ross Smith and two others. Australian Commonwealth Government prize for first successful flight from England to Australia

1920 Event Queensland and Northern Territory Air Service (QANTAS) is founded

1920 1920 - 1926 Organization Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry formed.

Forerunner of CSIRO, preceeded by Advisory Council of Science and Industry (1916-1920), followed by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

1920 Publication 'The Home' first published

1921 Person Keith Murdoch (1885-1952) editor of Mel-bourne Herald

1922 Organisation Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association (ACESA) founded

Later becomes Standards Australia

1924 Organization 'Australian Made' preference league formed

1925 Publication Margaret Preston publishes 'Indigenous Art of Australia' in 'Art in Australia'.

1926 1926 - 1949 Organization Council for Scientific and Industrial Re-search (CSIR)formed.

Forerunner of CSIRO, preceeded by Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry (1920-1926).

1927 Design Event Grace Brothers commissions de Maistre and T Proctor to design showrooms

1928 Event Royal Flying Doctor Service founded

1929 1929 - 1930 Economy Great Depression

1929 Media The Advertiser (Adelaide) taken over by Herald and Weekly Times

Later acquired by News Corporation (Rupert Mur-doch)

1929 Design Event Burdekin House exhibition of Modernist Interiors

1929 Event Heritage movement begins in NSW

1929 Event Australian Aboriginal Art Exhibition, Nation-al Gallery of Victoria.


1929 Design Event Proctor, Lambert and Ure Smith design colourways for Ford Cars.

1930 Publication Margaret Preston publishes 'The Application of Aboriginal Designs'.

1930 Event Myram Mansell opens textile studio using Aboriginal designs.

1930 1930 - Organization Royal Australian Institute of Architects, (RAIA) forms.

It is a national body consisting of 8000 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute was formed in 1930 when state architectural Institutes combined to form a unified national association with the following aims:- to advance architecture; to maintain the integrity and standing of the profes-sion; to promote the profession's views nationally and internationally; and to encourage the study of architecture.

1930 Economy Unemployment in Australia 28%

1931 Event Holden's becomes General Motors (Austra-lia) Pty Ltd.

Holden's Motor Body Builders, Adelaide, amalgam-ates with General Motors (USA) to form General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd.

1931 Media Australian Movietone cinema newsreel commences

1931 Person Naper Waller begins teaching in Working-mens College, Melbourne.

1931 Media The Herald, Melbourne organises interna-tional art exhibition.

1932 1932 - 1935 Person Cynthia Reed's Modern Furnishings shop opens in Melbourne.

1932 Person Fredrick Ward designs furniture for Meyer Emporium.

1932 Person Thea Proctor designs cafe for David Jones

1932 Economy Unemployment in Australia 30%

1932 Event Empire Trade Agreement (Ottawa Agree-ment)

Britain's manufactured goods get preferred tariff treatment as imports in exchange for secure market for Australian agricultural exports.

1932 Event Opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge

1932 Organisation Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) founded by Federal Government

Established as a public radio broadcaster. Becomes Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1983.

1933 Economy Wages in Australia at 80% of the 1929 level

1933 Media BBC and ABC broadcasts 'Design in Modern Life'.

1934 Event Melbourne Centennial Celebration

1934 Technology Ford utility appears

1934 Economy Australian economy shows signs of recovery

1935 Media Australian Consolidated Press Ltd formed Sir Frank Packer chairman

1935 Organisation Women's Industrial Arts Society (WIAS) founded

Lasted until WWII

1935 Person Margo Lewers fabrics exhibited in Sydney

1935 Organization Womens Industrial Art Society established

1936 Event Ansett Airways initial flight service

1937 Economy Commonwealth Bank of Australia takes on role as Australia's central bank

1937 Organisation Australian Commercial and Industrial Art-ists Association (ACIAA) founded

Professional association concerned with industrial and graphic design


1937 Event Ballet Russe tours Australia (Cafe Petrush-ka) in Melbourne.

1937 Design Event Stephenson and Meldrum design stream-lined locomotives for Victorian Railways.

1937 Organization Australian Commercial and Industrial Art-ists Association founded.

1937 Organization Frances Burke fabrics established in Mel-bourne.

1938 1938 - 1950 Person Essington Lewis (1881-1961) is chief general manager of BHP

Inaugural chair of the Industrial Design Council of Australia. Industrialist.

1938 Organisation Industrial Design Institute (IDI) founded in the USA


1939 1939 - 1945 Event WWII Boosts manufacturing

1939 1939 - 1941 Prime Minister Robert Menzies United Australia Party (UAP)

1939 1939 - 1945 Event During WWII Australia forms a camouflage unit.

1939 Event NY World's Fair with design supervisor John Oldham and other notables.

1940 Event Evelyn Owen and Vincent Wardell develop the Owen Gun.

1940 Design Event Marion Hall Best Interiors established

1940 Organization Design and Industries Association (DIA) founded in Sydney

Established by R H James and Geoff and Dahl Collings. Probably based on the English organisation founded in 1915. No evidence of it after WWII.

1941 1941 - 1941 Prime Minister Arthur Fadden Country Party

1941 1941 - 1945 Prime Minister John Curtin Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1941 Event 'Australian Aboriginal Art and its Applica-tion' at David Jones Gallery.

1941 Media ABC's 'Design in Everyday Things'

1941 Design Event Frances Burke designs a line of Aborig-inal-inspired fabrics for Roy Grounds, Melbourne.

1942 Media Herald and Weekly Times Ltd Keith Murdoch becomes chairman in 1942

1944 Organisation American Society of Industrial Designers (ASID) founded in USA


1944 Organisation Council of Industrial Designers (COID) founded in England


1945 1945 - 1949 Prime Minister Ben Chifley Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1945 1945 - 1945 Prime Minister Frank Forde Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1945 Event WWII ends

1945 Media The Age newspaper becomes a public company

VIC Newspaper. Owned by the Syme family for many years. Taken over by the Fairfax group

1945 Organization National Trust founded in NSW The Australian National Trust movement was estab-lished in New South Wales in 1945 by Annie Wyatt who, along with a group of other citizens, raised community consciousness of widespread destruc-tion of the built and natural heritage in Sydney. The National Trust movement quickly spread across Australia with the other States establishing National Trust offices throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. The Northern and Australian Capital Territories were the last to establish a National Trust in 1976. Each State and Territory National Trust is fully autonomous entity in its own right responsible for managing its own affairs.


1946 Event Manning Clark establishes the first year-long course in Australian History at the Melbourne University.

1946 Event Commonwealth Aircraft Factory develops pre-fabricated homes

1946 Event Modernage Fabrics produces fabrics from Dobell, Friend, D Annand, and many others.

1946 Event Fler furniture company founded by Fred Lowen and Ernest Rodeck.

1946 Event East-West Airlines founded

1946 Event Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) founded

1947 1947 - 1972 Event Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme project

1947 Event Australia enters General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

1948 Event General Motors-Holden's Ltd makes first Holden car

1948 Organisation Society of Designers for Industry (SDI) founded in Australia

Professional association founded in Melbourne. First Australian professional design organisation. Later becomes the Industrial Design Institute of Australia.

1948 Organisation Interior Designers Association of Australia (IDAA) founded

Formed by students of Melbourne technical College. In 1958 and later members join the Industrial Design Institute of Australia.

1948 Media Australian Home Beautiful embraces mod-ernism.

1948 Design Event 'Good Design' gallery opened in Melbourne by Frances Burke.

1949 1949 - Organization Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

CSIRO works with industry and other potential research users to exploit the opportunities created by research and development. They are the scientific and industrial research organisation for Australia. A Federal Government business unit.Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR - 1926-1949)was its forerunner.

1949 1949 - 1966 Prime Minister Robert Menzies Liberal Party

1949 Media Art and Design first published Sydney Ure Smith commences publishing a biannual journal. Only one issue produced.

1949 Media British Design magazine first published

1950 Organisation Society of Designers for Industry (SDI) NSW Chapter founded

1950 Event Douglas Snelling and Functional Products produce furniture line.

1950 Person David Foulkes-Taylor active as WA designer

1950 1950 - 1951 Person Grant Featherston designs Contour Range for Emerson Brothers.

1951 1951 - 1998 Organization The Society of Interior Designers of Austra-lia (SIDA) founded

First known as the Society of Interior Designers. Aims were to advance the art of interior designing, to promote interior design services to the public, to assist designers entering the field, to advance the standards of interior designing and decoration, to uphold a code of ethics and professional practices. Following talks with the DIA and later the Australian Textile Designers Association (ATDA) the three bodies unified on July 1st 1998.

1951 1951 - 1953 Design Event RMIT establishes Industrial Design Pro-gramme


1951 Media Australian Financial Review National Newspaper first published by the Fairfax family

1953 Person Clement Meadmore designing furniture in Melbourne.

1953 Person Gordon Andrews designing furniture for Marion Hall Best Inc.

1953 Legislation Flags Act Australian Blue Ensign becomes the Australian National Flag.

1954 Media USA publication Industrial Design first published

1956 Event Olympic Games held in Melbourne

1956 Media First television broadcasts in Australia Commenced to enable coverage of the Olympic Games

1956 Media John Fairfax Ltd formed John Fairfax buys the Sydney Herald in 1841, be-comes the Sydney Morning Herald. Becomes a public company in 1956

1956 Organisation Department of Trade formed Federal government department

1956 Person Frederick Ward active at The Design Unit, ANU.

1956 Person Schulim Krimper, Melbourne designer, exhibits in New York.

1957 Media Form magazine first published in Germany

1957 Organisation International Council of Societies of Indus-trial Design (ICSID) founded

1958 Organization Industrial Design Council of Australia Established in 1958 to promote innovative industrial design as essential to the development of a healthy manufacturing industry.

1958 Organisation Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) formed

Commonwealth Government forms and funds the IDCA following lobbying by the combined Australian design associations

1958 Organisation Industrial Design Institute of Australia (IDIA) formed

Society of Designers for Industry (est. 1948) form the IDIA (Company Limited by Guarantee). Members of the Interior Designers Association of Australia (est. 1948) then join the new IDIA. Name changed to the Design Institute of Australia (1983).

1958 Organisation Society of Industrial Designers Australia (SIDA) founded in Sydney

A breakaway group of designers many of whom were members of SDI. SIDA amalgamates with IDIA in 1965

1958 Person Colin Barrie First director of the Industrial Design Council of Australia. Designer.

1958 Person Essington Lewis (1881-1961) Inaugural chair of the Industrial Design Council of Australia. Industrialist.

1958 August 2 - Organization Inventors Association of Australia Inc first meeting

Stan Shrivell organised the first meeting at his home in Ramsgate. With himself as chair, five people attended and formed a core group of inventors which eventually grew into the Inventors Association of Australia Inc

1959 Circa 1959 - Statistic Manfacturing employs 28% of the workforce

1959 Circa 1959 - Statistic Manufacturing is 28% of GDP

1959 1959 August - Organization Australian Consumer's Association reg-istered as a Australian Public Company, Limited By Guarantee

An independent not-for-profit organisation that publishes consumer information on products and services and lobbies on behalf of the consumer. It re-ceives no funding from government, industry, unions, or advertising. Income comes from subscriptions, sales and independent testing.


1960 1960 - 1975 Design Event Good Design swing tag Good Design swing tag awarded by the Industrial De-sign Council of Australia 1960-1975. The black label read "Selected as Good Design for Australian Design Index - Industrial Design Council of Australia"

1960 Economy The Reserve Bank of Australia is formed Takes over the role of Australia's central regulatory bank from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia

1960 Event First Adelaide Festival

1961 Publication Robin Boyd's 'The Australian Ugliness' published

1961 1961 - 1965 DIA National President

Peter Hutchison

1961 Economy Government limits amount of credit avail-able to borrowers (credit squeeze)

In response to increasing unemployment

1961 Event Airlines Agreement Act Policy to ensure that two airlines are in competition on major air routes

1963 Organisation International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) founded

1963 Organisation International Federation of Interior Archi-tects/Interior Designers (IFI) founded

1963 Design Event Australian currency project with Gordon Andrews and others. Stuart Devlin coin design project.

1964 1964 - 1965 Economy Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 3.0% (Financial Year)

1964 Design Event Australian Design Centre opened in Mel-bourne

IDCA showcases 'Good Design' in Melbourne

1964 Economy Capital Equipment Tax Investment Allow-ance 29%

Capital equipment for manufacturing has tax invest-ment allowance of 29%

1964 Economy Economy very healthy The London Financial Times reports that Australia has the healthiest economy on earth

1964 Media The Australian newspaper established National Newspaper. Owned by Rupert Murdoch

1964 Statistic US Ownership 20% of Australia's manufacturing industry has US ownership


Carl Nielsen

1965 Organisation Australian Conservation Foundation founded Sir Garfield Barwick is first president. An indepen-dent corporation concerned with the preservation of the natural environment. In conflict with developers and state government development proposals that threaten conservation.

1965 Statistic US Ownership 27% of Australia's manufacturing industry has US ownership


1965 Organisation Society of Industrial Designers Australia (SIDA) amalgamates with IDIA

New South Wales based SIDA amalgamates with the IDIA NSW Chapter. Ratified by IDIA in 1966.

1965 Organization The Australian Council of National Trusts (ACNT) formed.

It represents the interests of the National Trust at the federal level, provides a forum for information exchange and increasingly coordinates the work of the constituent bodies.


1966 1966 - 1967 Prime Minister Harold Holt Liberal Party

1966 Feb 14th 1966 - Economy Decimal currency introduced


1966 Statistic 64,000 motor cycles in Australia Popularity of motor cycles drops in Australia from eary 1950s.

1967 1967 - 1990 DIA National Executive Sec-retary

Bill Gillam


Ron Rosenfeldt

1967 1967 - Nov 1975

Media Design Australia first published by the Industrial Design Council of Australia

Official Journal of the Industrial Design Council of Australia

1967 1967 - 1968 Prime Minister Jack McEwen Country Party

1967 Dec 1967 - Design Event IDIA joins ICSID Industrial Design Institute of Australia becomes a member of International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID)

1967 Economy Five dollar note introduced

1967 Organisation Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) formed

Treaty between 10 Asian countries, including Indo-nesia, for economic benefit. Australia is a 'dialogue partner' not a member.

1967 Organisation Australian Council for the Arts Holt authorises the formation of the Australian Council for the Arts following its proposal by H C Coombs


1967 Event Ford Australia establishes design studio in Geelong, VIC.

1968 1968 - 1970 Event Fred Lowen starts Twen furniture company


1968 1968 - 1979 Economy Slow employment growth from service industries

1968 1968 - 1971 Prime Minister John Gorton Liberal Party

1968 Organisation Australian Conservation Foundation Granted federal funding


David Davenport



1970 1970 - Event Fred Lowen's Twen changes name to Tessa Furniture manufactured under licence in Germany

1970 Design Event Dunhill Lectures commence The Industrial Design Council of Australia commenc-es a lecture series sponsored by Dunhill

1970 Economy Export Income - one third is from wool, meat and cereals

Wool, cereals and meat continue to be the main stays of Australia's exports. However wheat is now in good supply on the world market and the price of wool is falling.

1970 Economy Nickel boom collapses Collapse of Poseidon mineral exploration company marks the end of the Nickel boom.

1970 Organisation Australian Industries Development Corpo-ration (AIDC)

John McEwen is instrumental in the formation of the AIDC, a government owned merchant bank for assisting Australian companies in the manufacturing and mineral processing sectors.

1970 Organisation Film and Television Development Corpora-tion

Formed by the Gorton government to invest in Aus-tralian films

1970 Organisation Builders' Labourers Federation (BLF) BLF places 'green ban' on the sub-division of Kelly's Bush, Hunters Hill NSW.



Hugh Whisson

1971 1971 - 1972 Prime Minister William McMahon Liberal Party

1971 Economy 10 Pound subsidized fare to Australia ceases British migration to Australia strong but subsidised fare withdrawn.

1971 Economy Australia becomes part of Pacific economy Geographical proximity becoming more important to Australian trade relationships rather than Common-wealth links.

1971 Economy Japan our best export customer Japan takes 27% of exports in 1971-72

1971 Economy South-East Asia major export customer South-East Asia takes 12% of exports in 1971-72

1971 Economy UK provides 20% of imports UK now in the EEC provides 20% of imports but takes only 9.2% of exports.

1971 Economy United Kingdom enters EEC United Kingdom's entry into EEC affects Australia's traditional trading patterns

1971 Economy US major export customer US takes 12% of exports in 1971-72

1971 Economy Exchange Rate now expressed in $US Exchange Rate formerly expressed in Pounds Ster-ling.

1971 Organisation EEC United Kingdom becomes part of the EEC

1971 Statistic 173,000 motor cycles in Australia Popularity of motor cycles increases in Australia from 1966.

1971 Statistic 3 million television licenses in Australia Television licenses increase from 2 million in 1966 to 3 million in 1971

1971 Statistic 4 Million motor vehicles in Australia Between 1966 and 1971 motor vehicles in Australia increase from 3 to 4 million.

1971 Organization The Crafts Council of Australia founded



1972 1972 - 1975 Event Colour television and FM radio introduced into Australia

Colour television and FM radio introduced into Aus-tralia by the Whitlam Government

1972 1972 - 1975 Prime Minister Gough Whitlam Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1972 Economy Stagflation Low economic growth combined with increasing unemployment and rising inflation.

1972 Economy Whitlam government revalues the dollar Whitlam government revalues the dollar upward three times in an attempt to control the economy

1972 Organisation South Australian Film Corporation Formed by the South Australian Labour Dunstan government. Its first feature film was Sunday Too Far Away.


Lionel Suttie

1973 1973 - 1974 Economy International oil price rises World recession and stagflation (inflation coupled with slow Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth).

1973 Oct 1973 - Economy OPEC cuts oil production Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries cuts oil production in response to US support for Israel

1973 Dec 1973 - Economy Referendum on Prices and Wages regula-tion defeated

This freed unions to make wage demands to counter-act inflation.

1973 Economy 25% cut in protective tariffs G A Rattigan, chairman of the Tariff Board, recom-mends reduction in protective tariffs which is made policy by the Whitlam government.

1973 Economy Fifty Dollar note introduced


1973 Economy Inflation 13% Consumer prices rise under flood of imports fueling inflation.

1973 Economy World-wide recession

1973 Economy Manufacturing and Building Industry doing well

1973 Event Australia signs Trade Pact with China

1973 Organisation Australian Film and Television School Formed by the Whitlam Government

1973 Organisation Prices Justification Tribunal Government establishes Prices Justification Tribunal. Companies required to argue price rises before it although it had no legal power to enforce its findings.


1973 Technology Leyland P76 car introduced



CBCS was abolished and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) established.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics Act in 1975, established the ABS as a Statutory Authority headed by the Australian Statistician with the status of Per-manent Head, responsible to the Treasurer.

1974 1974 - 1985 Design Event Prince Philip Prize for Australian Design Pinacle prize from the Industrial Design Council of Australia. Commenced during the 'Good Design' pro-motion. Continued through much of the Australian Design Award program. Silver swing tag with black logo signifying royal patronage.


Derek Hooper

1974 1974 - 1975 Economy Household incomes rise by over 50%. Spending power of wage earners rises faster than cost of living.

1974 1974 - 1975 Economy Property slump

1974 1974 - 1998 Media Kerry Packer chairman of Consolidated Press Holdings Ltd

Son of Sir Frank Packer

1974 Sep 30th 1974 -

Economy Stock exchange low September 30, 1974 was the blackest day on Austra-lian stock exchanges this century'. T Sykes

1974 Mar 1974 - Design Event Industrial Design Institute of Australia forms Western Australian chapter

1974 Economy Australia's inflation highest since 1951

1974 Economy Credit cards introduced Banks begin to promote credit cards

1974 Economy Australian dollar devalued by 13.6%

1974 Economy World recession

1974 Media Television viewing licenses and radio licens-es abolished

1975 1975 - 1983 Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser Liberal Party

1975 Nov 1975 - Economy Trade cycle at low

1975 Design Event Organised government design policy col-lapses

Funding for the IDCA and the design community becomes haphazard

1975 Media Colour television broadcasts begin



Australia Council Whitlam upgrades the Australian Council for the Arts to the Australia Council in 1975. Supports literature, drama, ballet, arts & crafts. The Australia Council's primary responsibility is to help create an environment which encourages the creativity and development of Australian artists, and which provides greater access to arts and cultural activities for all Australians.

1975 Organisation Australian Council for the Arts Whitlam upgrades the Australian Council for the Arts to the Australia Council in 1975.

1975 Organisation Telecom Australia established by the federal government

1975 Legislation Australian Bureau of Statistics Act established the ABS as a Statutory Authority headed by the Australian Statistician with the status of Per-manent Head, responsible to the Treasurer



1976 1976 - 1987 Design Event Australian Design Award commences Australian Design Award issued by the Industrial De-sign Council of Australia from 1976 to 1987. Replaces the 'Good Design' promotion. The logo was the upper trangular portion of a capital A reversed into a blue rectangle.

1976 Design Event Colin King Grand Prix Created by ICSID's first Patron Colin King and award-ed to distinguished industrial designers 1977 Lord Reilly England 1979 Kenji Ekuan Japan

1976 Economy Australian dollar devalued by 17.5%

1976 Event Census 1976

1976 Legislation Cigarette advertising banned on radio and television

1976 Organisation Industrial Design Council of Australia Federal Government withdrew funding support from the Industrial Design Council. They then worked toward self sufficiency with funding from industry, promotional activity, state funds/grants, Federal funds.

1977 1977 - 1978 Economy Inflation under 9%

1977 1977 - 1978 Economy Unemployment 6.2% (Annual Average) Highest February '78 at 7.5%

1977 July 1977 - Design Event Industrial Design Institute of Australia forms Queensland chapter

1977 Economy Industrial disputes Number of working days lost through industrial disputes a quarter of the 1974 figure.

1977 Economy Tariff protection Fraser reverts to using tariffs to protect manufac-tures.



1978 1978 - 1979 Economy Unemployment 6.3% (Annual Average) Highest month February '79 at 7%


Don Goodwin

1979 1979 - 1983 Design Event Design Council Selection commences Design Council Selection issued by the Industrial Design Council of Australia. Second tier level of recognition for the Australian Design Award program. Green swing tag with identical logo to Australian Design Award.



Michael Bryce

1979 Apr 1979 - May 1984

Media Design in Australia first published Published by the Industrial Design Institute of Aus-tralia. Edited by Ron Newman

1979 Event BHP Steel Award

1979 Statistic Holden has less than one quarter of new car registrations

In 1958 Holden had half of the new car registrations. Japanese and foreign imports rose from less than one third to around half between 1971 and 1978.

1979 1979 - 1980 Economy Unemployment 6.2% (Annual Average) Highest month February '80 at 6.7%



1980 1980 - 1981 Economy Unemployment 5.9% (Annual Average) Highest January 1981 at 6.5%

1980 Apr 1980 - Design Event Industrial Design Institute of Australia be-comes member of International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA)

1980 Design Event Asian Regional Meeting Joint Committee of the IDIA and IDCA was estab-lished to convene the Asian Regional Meeting in Canberra

1980 Economy Federal Government deregulates interest rates paid by banks on deposits

1980 Organisation National Companies and Securities Com-mission

Established in 1980 as a regulatory body. Replaced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commis-sion (ASIC) in 1991

1981 Aug 1st 1981 - Organisation Architecture & Design Committee Architecture & Design Panel, part of the Visual Arts Board, changes its name to the Architecture and Design Committee of the Australia Council, August 1 1981

1981 Design Event First joint General Assembly and Congress of ICSID, IFI, ICOGRADA

ICSID, IFI, ICOGRADA hold their General Assemblies and Congress at the same time for the first time 1981

1981 Design Event National Architecture Awards first awarded A program of the Royal Australian Institute of Archi-tects, Canberra 1981.

1981 Design Event The Australian Design Centre Announced in September 1981 Design In Australia issue. Address to be 70 George Street, Sydney

1981 Economy Economy deteriorates

1981 Economy Inflation rises

1981 Event Census 1981

1981 Organisation Australian Industrial Research and Develop-ment Incentives Board

Allows only BA (Industrial Design) from Sydney Col-lege of the Arts to be elligible for grants.

1981 Statistic Population of Australia 14.5 Million

1981 Technology 186 microprocessor Number of transistors 55,000




1982 1982 - 1983 Economy Unemployment 9.0% (Annual Average) Highest February 1983 at 10.7%

1982 July 1982 - Economy Australian dollar falls below parity with US dollar for first time

July 29 1982

1982 Oct 1982 - Design Event Industrial Design Institute of Australia be-comes member of International Federation of Interior Designers (IFI)


1982 Design Event First Industrial Design Masters Degree University of New South Wales offers the first Indus-trial Design masters Degree in Australia from 1982

1982 Economy Australian economy in recession This is defined by two consecutive quarters of de-creasing Gross National Product

1982 Technology 286 microprocessor Number of transistors 134,000 Maximum processor speed 12.5MHz


Desmond Freeman

1983 1983 - 1984 Economy Increase in the purchase of new cars.

1983 1983 - 1984 Economy Strong recovery in residential building

1983 1983 - 1991 Prime Minister Bob Hawke Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1983 Mar 1983 - Economy Australian dollar devalued by 10% March 8 1983

1983 Dec 1983 - Economy Australian dollar floated December 9 1983

1983 Event National economic summit National economic summit of government, business and unions endorses a prices and income agreement and the reestablishment of wage indexation.

1983 Media Design World published in Australia Originated and edited by Colin Wood. Later becomes Design Graphics

1983 Media The Age newspaper taken over by the Fair-fax group

1983 Organisation Design Institute of Australia named Industrial Design Institute of Australia (IDIA) formed in 1958 renamed


1983 1983 - 1984 Economy Unemployment 9.6% (Annual Average) Highest Month February '84 at 10.4%

1983 1983 - Organization The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineer-ing formed

An independent, industry-linked institute committed to fostering excellence and innovation in advanced engineering throughout Australia. It is a self-fund-ing non-profit body operating within the Faculty of Engineering at The University of Sydney, controlled by representatives from industry. It has four objectives: 1/ Stimulating innovation in advanced engineering technologies to accelerate Australia’s industrial de-velopment; 2/ Encouraging effective deployment and use of new engineering technologies; 3/ Promoting the integration of technology, management, design and enterprise among Australian businesses; 4/ Providing independent advice and comment on these issues and their impact on development, national policies and enterprise.



1984 1984 - 1985 Economy Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$376.20

1984 1984 - 1986 Economy Large expansion in Australia's overseas debt

1984 1984 - 1985 Economy Strongly increasing new capital expenditure

1984 Aug 1984 - Economy Australian banking system deregulated Federal Treasurer is Paul Keating

1984 Economy Gross Domestic Product rises GDP rises by 5 percent

1984 Economy One Dollar note is replaced by the Dollar coin

1984 Economy One Hundred Dollar note introduced


1984 1984 - circa 1993

Federal Govern-ment

Department of Industry, Technology & Com-merce named.

Senator the Hon. John N Button, Minister for In-dustry, Technology and Commerce from 13.12.84 to 24.3.93. Department previously known as the Depart-ment of Industry and Commerce.


Austrade Austrade is the Australian Trade Commission - the federal government's export and investment facilita-tion agency. They help Australians win export busi-ness and generate inward and outward investment.

1985 1985 - 1988 Economy Australian dollar loses more than one third of its value.

1985 1985 - 1986 Statistic Manufactured goods 19% of Australian exports



1985 1985 - 1986 Economy Unemployment 7.9% (Anuual Average) Highest month February '86 at 8.8%

1985 Legislation Australian Trade Commission Act The Australian Trade Commission is known as Austrade





Rolf Heins

1986 May 1986 - Economy Keating (Federal Treasurer) makes 'Banana Republic' statement on radio May 14

Causes value of Australian dollar to drop

1986 1986 - Federal Govern-ment

National Industries Extension Service (NIES) Memorandum of understanding between the States & Commonwealth to coordinate State and Feder-al initiatives to assist secondary industry improve overall efficiency and opportunities in internationally traded goods and services. Abolished circa 1997.

1986 Economy Australia's international credit rating drops from highest level to second highest.

1986 Event TAA becomes Australian Airlines

1986 Technology 386 microprocessor Number of transistors 275,000 Maximum processor speed 33MHz

1987 Oct 1987 - Economy Stock market slumps October 21 1987 Value of the Australian stockmarket drops 25%. From 1980 to 1987 share prices had risen 400%.

1987 Organisation Australian Design Council (ADC) replaces IDCA

Industrial Design Council of Australia revitalised after a government review and renamed. Takes on design training role.

1987 Organisation Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) formed from the amalgamation of six state stock exchanges




1987 Design Event Warren Centre report on design issued. Winning by Design; The Corporate Role of Design in Australian Industry - A Project Report The Warren Centre, University of Sydney, 1987


1987 1987 - 1993 Design Event The Australian Design Award rebranded Following the launch of the Australian Design Coun-cil (formerly Industrial Design Council of Australia) the Australian Design Award is rebranded with the 'DA' mark in blue, white and red.

1988 1988 - 1989 Economy Unemployment 6.6% (Annual Average) Highest month January '89 at 7.4%



1988 Organization Australian Graphic Design Association formed

A national, voluntary, non-profit organisation to facilitate the advancement of the graphic design profession in Australia


John Harrison

1988 Jan 26th 1988 - Event Australia's Bicentenary 200th anniversary of the First Fleet landing at Sydney Cove under Captain Arthur Philip

1989 Economy General pilot strike

1989 Organisation Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) formed

Formed to promote economic co-operation and trade in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia and US are members. Promotes a free-trade policy. Tariff barriers to be dropped by 2010.

1989 Technology 486 microprocessor Number of transistors 1,180,000 Maximum processor speed 50MHz



1989 1989 - 1990 Economy Unemployment 6.2% lowest since 80/81. (Annual Average)

Lowest month November '89 at 5.4%

1989 1989 May 25 - 1989 May 26

Design Event Senator Button, The Hon. John Norman Opened the Australian Design Summit, introduced the concept of an Academy of Design. Senator for Victoria 1974-93 Australian Labor Party Resigned 31.3.93. Minister for Industry and Commerce from 11.3.83 to 13.12.84. Minister for Industry, Technol-ogy and Commerce from 13.12.84 to 24.3.93. Born 30.6.33 at Ballarat, Vic. BA, LLB (Melb). Barrister and solicitor.

1989 1989 May 25 - 1989 May 26

Design Event Australian Design Summit held in Canberra Summit held to determine how Australian design resources could be strengthened so as to better contribute to Australia's wealth and well-being. The summit was attended by 120 representatives of in-dustry, business, design, education and government. Organised by the National Design Forum for the Na-tional Industry Extension Service (NIES) a business unit of the Department of Industry, Technology, and Commerce. Assisted by the Australia Council.

1990 1990 May - Federal Govern-ment

Cooperative Research Centres commence CRCs promote R&D interaction between public and industry sectors. Federal government programme. Managed by the Sciences Programs Branch Depart-ment of Education, Science and Training (2003)

1990 1990 - 1991 Economy Unemployment 8.3% (Annual Average) Highest month April '91 at 9.9%



1990 1990 - 1991 Economy Australia in recession

1990 Dec 1990 - Dec 1991

Event Compass Airlines commences operations Collapses in December 1991. Restarts in 1992 and ceases in March 1993


1990 Design Event Standards Australia takes over the Austra-lian Design Award component of the ADC

1990 Event Airlines Agreement Act ends Beginning of airline deregulation

1990 Event Australia Prize The Australia Prize, initiated in 1990 by the Common-wealth Government, is an annual international award that honours outstanding achievement in science and technology promoting human welfare.

1990 Media Internet. AARnet research network formed Foundation of internet in Australia. National and international computer network of universities and research bodies.

1990 Organisation Australian Academy of Design A division of The Australian Quality Council ACN 050 541 047

1990 Organization Australian Academy of Design formed Formed as a result of a resolution made at the Aus-tralian Design Summit 1989 that there is .."a need for a national body to provide a focus for design in Aus-tralia." Produces 1995 report Competing by Design


Geoffrey Fairhall

1991 1991 - 1996 Prime Minister Paul Keating Australian Labour Party (ALP)

1991 Economy World recession

1991 Organisation Australian Securities and Investments Com-mission (ASIC) formed

Formerly the National Companies and Securities Commission. Charged with protecting investors from corporate crime and ensuring fair practise.

1991 Organisation Optus Communications becomes Australia's second telecommunications carrier






1992 1992 - Design Event The Powerhouse Museum Selection first awarded at the Australian Design Awards

The Powerhouse Museum makes annual 'Selections' from the products receiving DesignMarks in the Australian Design Award program

1992 1992 - Design Event Colourways is launched The Victorian branch of the DIA initiates Colourways, a colour forecasting service


Roger Simpson

1992 1992 - 1993 Economy Unemployment peaks at 11% (Annual Average)

Highest month February '93 at 12.2%

1992 1992 - 1993 Statistic Manufactured goods 30% of Australian exports

1992 1992 - 1993 Statistic Retail trade employs 14.5% of workforce

1992 Economy Five dollar plastics banknote issued

1992 Economy One and two cent coins are withdrawn from circulation

1992 Legislation Cigarette advertising banned in print media

1992 Legislation Compulsory employee superannuation commences


1992 Media Sydney Morning Herald NSW Newspaper. Owned by the Fairfax family since 1841. Floated on stockmarket in May 1992

1993 Economy Ten dollar plastics banknote issued

1993 Event Australian Airlines merges with QANTAS

1993 Statistic Four-wheel drive vehicles are 8% of new car sales

1993 Technology Pentium microprocessor Number of transistors 3,100,000 Maximum processor speed 66MHz

1993 March 1993 - Design Event Australian Design Awards relaunched as the Australian DesignMark Program

Australian Design Awards as a division of Standards Australia Quality Assurance Services relaunches the Australian Design Award program after a review by an industry committee consisting of the design profession, industry and government representatives. It has three levels of recognition, the Australian DesignMark, Australian Design Award and the Aus-tralian Design of the Year. The program included rec-ognition for both Australian and imported products.

1993 1993 - Design Event Australian Design of the Year first awarded The peak level in the Australian DesignMark awards program.







1994 1994 - Design Event Ford Falcon wins Australian Design Award of the Year

Ford wins the peak prize in the annual Australian Design Awards program

1994 July 1 1994 - Design Event Design Award program transferred back to Standards Australia administration

The Design Awards program ceases to be admin-istered by the Quality Assurance Services (QAS) subsidiary of Standards Australia

1994 1994 October - Design Event Innovation by Design conference.

1994 Economy Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Bogor free trade declaration

Members of APEC with developed economies to drop tariff protection by 2010

1994 Economy Twenty dollar plastics banknote issued

1994 Event East-West Airlines ceases operation

1994 1994 - 1995 Design Event National Design Review Steering Committee co-ordinates a National Design Review for the Federal Government.

In 1994/95 the Academy of Design, through a design and industry led steering committee, coordinates a National Design Review which is published in 1995 as the 'Competing by Design' report. Desmond Freeman FDIA was Chairperson.


Roger Buxton


Jill Stansfield

1995 Mar 1995 - Publication Competing by Design The National Design review Report prepared by the National Design Review Steering Committee through the Australian Academy of Design

1995 Organisation Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) formed

Established by the federal Government as a consum-er watchdog against dishonest and unfair business behaviour. Formerly the Trade Practices and Prices Surveillance Authority.


1995 Organisation Telecom Australia becomes Telstra Corpo-ration Ltd

1995 Statistic Estimated Population 18.072million

1995 1995 - 1999 Design Event Victorian Design Awards commence Victorian Government partners with the Design Institute of Australia to deliver the Victorian Design Awards





AusIndustry formed A Commonwealth Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources business unit to help Australian businesses become more innovative and internationally competitive. Provides commercial incentives and information services.




1996 1996 Novem-ber 25 - 1996 November 26

Design Event Innovation by Design 96 conference. Mel-bourne.

An Australian Academy of Design conference in asso-ciation with the Australian Quality Council.


Madeline Lester Noted Sydney Interior Designer. Co-owner of Interni design consultancy. Presided over unification and Sydney Design '99.

1996 1996 - Prime Minister John Howard Liberal Party


1997 1997 - DIA National Executive Sec-retary

Douglas Watson

1997 1997 - 1998 Statistic Manufacturing employs 12% of workforce

1997 1997 - 1998 Statistic Manufacturing is 12% of GDP

1997 1997 - 1998 Statistic Retail trade employs 15% of workforce Largest sector of employment for this period

1997 1997 - 1998 Statistic Victoria has 33% of Australian manufactur-ing

Victoria 33%, NSW 32%, QLD 15%, SA 9%, WA 8%, Tasmania 2%.

1997 Event First public float of Telstra

1997 Legislation Telecommunications act deregulates the Australian tellecommunication market


1997 Technology Pentium II microprocessor Number of transistors 7,500,000 Maximum processor speed 300MHz

1997 1997 - Design Event Australian Design Awards commences internet collection of entries

The Australian Design Award process ceases to use panel assessment of individual products and commences internet lodgement and winnowing of entries. Terry Insley is National Manager. A 'College of Industrial Designers' is tabulated from senior design practitioners to act as the judging pool.


1997 1997 - 1998 Economy Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 0% (Financial Year)



1998 Organization SIDA Foundation commences Following unification with the DIA, SIDA resolved to retain its financial assets and to convert its corpo-rate structure into a Foundation. It uses its funds to further develop the knowledge, skills and ethics of interior designers and decorators. It does this by grants to Institutions and other bodies.

1998 Sept 1998 - 2002

Publication Artichoke magazine commences First of 13 issues of a national newsletter/magazine sponsored by Architecture Media and edited by Geoff Fitzpatrick. The magazine evolved into a commercial magazine in 2002 (See Bibliography)

1998 Jun 1998 - Design Event Design Institute of Australia amalgamates with Australian Textile Designers Associa-tion (ATDA)

1998 Jun 1998 - Design Event Design Institute of Australia amalgamates with Society of Interior Designers of Austra-lia (SIDA)

1998 Jul 1st 1998 - Design Event The 'New DIA' commences Following unification discussions with AGDA, SIDA and ATDA the Design Institute of Australia amalgam-ates with SIDA and ATDA retaining the name of the Design Institute of Australia

1998 Economy Asian currency crisis

1998 Media James Packer chief executive of Consolidat-ed pres Holdings Ltd

Son of Kerry Packer, grandson of Sir Frank Packer


1998 Statistic Four-wheel drive vehicles are 12% of new car sales


John Harrison Only DIA National President to hold office on two separate occasions. Steps in to fill void of candidates after the energies of the DIA had been drained by the efforts of organising the unification process and Sydney Design '99.

1999 Oct 31st 1999 - Statistic Registered Motor Vehicles Total Registered Motor Vehicles = 11,934,800 not including Motor Cycles.Of these 9,719,900 are pas-senger vehicles. Motor cycles = 333,800

1999 Sep 26th 1999 - Sep 29th 1999

Design Event Sydney Design '99 Design Conference Australia hosts the combined Congresses and Gen-eral Assemblies of ICSID, IFI, ICOGRADA

1999 Circa 1999 - Statistic Services (including design) are around 20% of exports.

1999 Event Australia Prize last year 1999 was the last year of the Australia Prize. In 2000 it was renamed the Prime Minister's Prize for Science

1999 Person Ron Newman Associate Professor Ron Newman was the chair of the Management Committee for Sydney Design '99. Editor of Design in Australia (1979-84)


1999 Technology Pentium III microprocessor Number of transistors 28,100,000 Maximum proces-sor speed 933MHz

2000 2000 - DIA National President

David Robertson

2000 2000 - 2001 Economy Unemployment 6.4%

2000 Event Australia Prize renamed In 2000 the Australia Prize was renamed the Prime Minister's Prize for Science

2000 Event Prime Minister's Prize for Science Formerly known as the Australia Prize. Recognises Australian scientists who promote human welfare by an outstanding achievement in science or technology.



2000 Technology Pentium 4 microprocessor Number of transistors 42,000,000 Maximum proces-sor speed 1500MHz

2001 Organisation CREATE Australia launches training pack-ages for the national music, film, television, radio and multimedia industries

CREATE Australia is the national Industry Training Advisory Board


2001 2001 - Design Event Design Institute of Australia Selections first awarded at the Australian Design Awards

The DIA awards 'Selections' in the categories of Product Design and Furniture Design at the Austra-lian Design Awards

2002 Organization Triton Foundation commences Established to assist and promote Australian innova-tion. The Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation, set up and funded by George Lewin (inventor of the Triton sawbench) and various State Governments, and provides advice, assistance and promotion through the commercialisation process to Australian inventors and entrepreneurs.

2002 Jul 2002 - Legislation Super Guarantee Contributions Increases from 8 to 9% July 1st 2002

2002 2002 Feb - Organization Australian Quality Council acquired by Stan-dards Australia

Standards Australia International [SAI] formally acquired a range of products and services previously owned by the Australian Quality Council [AQC]. SAI's Professional Services Division [SPS] became the new home of the AQC and in recognition of the impor-tance of business excellence to SAI the Division has been renamed Business Excellence Australia.

2002 Jun 2002 - Media Curve magazine first published in Australia Edited by Belinda Stenning

history of design in australia

Documents