Australiana Society Inc

The Australiana Society encourages the research, collection and preservation of Australiana, items of portable heritage relating to or made in Australia.

'Australiana' means items of decorative arts and historic interest originating in or relating to Australia, e.g. books, paintings, prints, photographs, furniture, ephemera, ceramics, silver, jewellery, glass and other artefacts.

Our Objectives:

To promote the study and appreciation of Australiana to a broad audience through publications, meetings, conferences and other means
To produce a quality, authoritative magazine with original research and information about Australiana
To encourage the private and public collection, preservation, research and display of Australiana
To attract a national audience and establish events across Australia
To keep our Members informed and involved through our website, publications, lectures and events
To build up the membership of the Society

Our History:

The Australiana Society Inc. was founded in 1978 to encourage interest, collecting, preservation and research of Australiana. In 2018 we celebrated 40 years as a forum for collectors, dealers, researchers and connoisseurs sharing our commitment to preserving Australia’s past.

Members include all of Australia’s major federal and state public libraries, museums and art galleries and as well as most serious private collectors.

An annual dinner and lecture is held at the beginning of the year and excursions to exhibitions and public or private collections take place during each year. In 2019, we celebrated the end of our 40th year by holding a special three day symposium Made in Australia on Australiana and Australian decorative arts at the State Library of NSW.

The Australiana Society Inc is an incorporated body (no. Y0048938) under the Associations Incorporation Act 1984 (NSW) and its activities are governed by a Constitution (copies available on request). Our annual accounts are submitted to the Department of Fair Trading. Members liability is limited to their subscription.

The Australiana Society is listed on the Australian Government's Register of Cultural Organisations as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and donations to the Society are tax-deductible. The Australian Taxation Office recognises the Society as a tax-exempt charity.

The Australiana Society is an independent association. For information on the completely separate company The Australiana Fund, which furnishes Government properties, visit The Australiana Fund.

Our Magazine:

Australiana magazine is a major achievement of the society, the key means of communication with members and a lasting testament to the research that our members undertake. It is by far the the best journal devoted to any aspect of Australiana.

Our 60-pages (from 2020) quarterly full-colour magazine Australiana appears in February, May, August and November and is available only by subscription. We publish a wide range of lively articles on art, furniture, silver, ceramics, books, architecture, fashion, photography, sculpture, ephemera, crafts and history. Australiana keeps you abreast of new research, and each issue adds to this valuable archive. Distinguished scholars, curators, dealers, journalists and devoted collectors contribute.

Our Members:

Membership gives you four issues of Australiana plus invitations to Society meetings and events. Visitors are welcome to attend general meetings, usually an illustrated talk. Excursions and visits to a collection, exhibition or workshop are Members-only. We have organised occasional meetings in the ACT, South Australia and Queensland.

Our membership list is private and we do not reveal members' details.

A key benefit of membership is the informal network of contacts that you can establish with other collectors, curators and dealers.