The Australian Association has more than 60 years of history in Hong Kong. A group of Australians, who had begun to band together for social occasions, formed a provisional committee in October 1953. They met and developed rules for an official association, before advertising their intentions in the South China Morning Post.
A positive response to those advertisements led to the inauguration of the Australian Association of Hong Kong during at meeting at The Hong Kong Club on 25 January 1954. It had 204 founding members.
The Australian Association is the oldest continuously operating Australia-related organisation in Hong Kong, and even outdates the Australian Consulate-General.
1953: 26 Oct |
Provisional committee meets to establish rules of association |
1953: 13,14 Dec | South China Morning Post advertisement invites expressions of interest |
1954: 25 Jan | Australian Association of Hong Kong is inaugurated at Hong Kong Club |
1954: 3 Apr | First event: A Ball at the Peninsula Hotel |
1960 | First charitable event: Children’s party for residents at Ling Yuen Suet Home |
1968 | The Australian Club formed (now defunct) |
1973 | First regular editions of KangaNews |
1974 | The Woman’s Group formed (now Social Committee) |
1993 | Becomes founding member of Australian International School |
1995 | Australian International School opens |
2004 | Fiftieth anniversary: Publication of “Fifty Years of Memories” |
2014 | Sixtieth anniversary celebrations |