Design Institute of Australia - Design Research

Design Timeline

History of the Design Industry in Australia

Compiled by David Robertson FDIA
Commenced - April 2002
Version 1 - November 2002

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Year	Start - End	Category	Summary	Details	Link
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 Melbourne
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 Melbourne
1881		Person	Lucien Henry teaches at Sydney Technology College	French exile
1884		Design Event	Kalzoic Society founded in Melbourne	Formed to encourage Australian Design
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 September 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 Melbourne Workingman's College
1903		Organization	Tasmanian Arts and Crafts Society founded
1903		Legislation	Patents Act 1903
1904		Event	Australia's first motorcycle built in Melbourne
1905		Legislation	Trade Marks Act 1905
1905		Media	Form magazine first published in Sweden
1905		Federal Government	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 Australia is issued in Adelaide
1906		Legislation	Designs Act 1906
1908		Person	David Syme (1827-1908) dies	Managed Age newspaper for around 50 years. Advocate 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 exhibitions 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 Melbourne 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 Research (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 Murdoch)
1929		Design Event	Burdekin House exhibition of Modernist Interiors
1929		Event	Heritage movement begins in NSW
1929		Event	Australian Aboriginal Art Exhibition, National Gallery of Victoria.
1929		Design Event	Preston, Lambert and Smith design 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 profession; to promote the profession's views nationally and internationally; and to encourage the study of architecture.	Link
1930		Economy	Unemployment in Australia 28%
1931		Event	Holden's becomes General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd.	Holden's Motor Body Builders, Adelaide, amalgamates 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 Workingmens College, Melbourne.
1931		Media	The Herald, Melbourne organises international 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 Agreement)	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 Artists Association (ACIAA) founded	Professional association concerned with industrial and graphic design
1937		Event	Ballet Russe tours Australia (Cafe Petrushka) in Melbourne.
1937		Design Event	Stephenson and Meldrum design streamlined locomotives for Victorian Railways.
1937		Organization	Australian Commercial and Industrial Artists Association founded.
1937		Organization	Frances Burke fabrics established in Melbourne.
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	Professional association
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 Application' at David Jones Gallery.
1941		Media	ABC's 'Design in Everyday Things'
1941		Design Event	Frances Burke designs a line of Aboriginal-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	Professional association
1944		Organisation	Council of Industrial Designers (COID) founded in England	Professional association
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	Link
1945		Organization	National Trust founded in NSW	The Australian National Trust movement was established in New South Wales in 1945 by Annie Wyatt who, along with a group of other citizens, raised community consciousness of widespread destruction 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.	Link
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 modernism.
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.	Link
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 Australia (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.	Link
1951	1951 - 1953	Design Event	RMIT establishes Industrial Design Programme
1951		Media	Australian Financial Review	National Newspaper first published by the Fairfax family	Link
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, becomes 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 Industrial 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 registered 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 receives no funding from government, industry, unions, or advertising. Income comes from subscriptions, sales and independent testing.	Link
1960	1960 - 1975	Design Event	Good Design swing tag	Good Design swing tag awarded by the Industrial Design 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 available 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 Architects/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 Melbourne	IDCA showcases 'Good Design' in Melbourne
1964		Economy	Capital Equipment Tax Investment Allowance 29%	Capital equipment for manufacturing has tax investment 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	Link
1964		Statistic	US Ownership	20% of Australia's manufacturing industry has US ownership
1965	1965 - 1967	DIA National President	Carl Nielsen
1965		Organisation	Australian Conservation Foundation founded	Sir Garfield Barwick is first president. An independent 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	1965 - 1966	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 3.38% (Financial Year)
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.	Link
1966	1966 - 1967	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 2.61% (Financial Year)
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 Secretary	Bill Gillam
1967	1967 - 1969	DIA National President	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 Indonesia, 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	1967 - 1968	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 3.82% (Financial Year)
1967		Event	Ford Australia establishes design studio in Geelong, VIC.
1968	1968 - 1970	Event	Fred Lowen starts Twen furniture company
1968	1968 - 1969	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 2.45% (Financial Year)
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
1969	1969 - 1971	DIA National President	David Davenport
1969	1969 - 1970	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 2.99% (Financial Year)
1970	1970 - 1971	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 4.65% (Financial Year)
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 commences 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 Corporation (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 Corporation	Formed by the Gorton government to invest in Australian films
1970		Organisation	Builders' Labourers Federation (BLF)	BLF places 'green ban' on the sub-division of Kelly's Bush, Hunters Hill NSW.
1971	1971 - 1973	DIA National President	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 Commonwealth 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 Sterling.
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
1971	1971 - 1972	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 7.22% (Financial Year)
1972	1972 - 1973	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 5.7% (Financial Year)
1972	1972 - 1975	Event	Colour television and FM radio introduced into Australia	Colour television and FM radio introduced into Australia 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.
1973	1973 - 1974	DIA National President	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 regulation defeated	This freed unions to make wage demands to counteract inflation.
1973		Economy	25% cut in protective tariffs	G A Rattigan, chairman of the Tariff Board, recommends 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	1973 - 1974	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 13.24% (Financial Year)
1973		Technology	Leyland P76 car introduced
1974	1974 - 1975	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 16.45% (Financial Year)
1974		Federal Government	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 Permanent Head, responsible to the Treasurer.	Link
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' promotion. Continued through much of the Australian Design Award program. Silver swing tag with black logo signifying royal patronage.
1974	1974 - 1978	DIA National President	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 Australian 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 licenses 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 collapses	Funding for the IDCA and the design community becomes haphazard
1975		Media	Colour television broadcasts begin
1975		Federal Government	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.	Link
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 Permanent Head, responsible to the Treasurer	Link
1975	1975 - 1976	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 13.01% (Financial Year)
1976	1976 - 1977	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 13.82% (Financial Year)
1976	1976 - 1987	Design Event	Australian Design Award commences	Australian Design Award issued by the Industrial Design 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 awarded 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 manufactures.
1977	1977 - 1978	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 9.54% (Financial Year)
1978	1978 - 1979	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 8.18% (Financial Year)
1978	1978 - 1979	Economy	Unemployment 6.3% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '79 at 7%
1978	1978 - 1979	DIA National President	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.
1979	1979 - 1983	DIA National President	Michael Bryce
1979	Apr 1979 - May 1984	Media	Design in Australia first published	Published by the Industrial Design Institute of Australia. 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%
1979	1979 - 1980	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 10.24% (Financial Year)
1980	1980 - 1981	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 9.29% (Financial Year)
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 becomes member of International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA)
1980		Design Event	Asian Regional Meeting	Joint Committee of the IDIA and IDCA was established 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 Commission	Established in 1980 as a regulatory body. Replaced by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (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 Architects, 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 Development Incentives Board	Allows only BA (Industrial Design) from Sydney College 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
1981	1981 - 1982	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 10.53% (Financial Year)
1981	1981 - 1982	Economy	Unemployment 6.2% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '82 at 7.1%
1982	1982 - 1983	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 11.54% (Financial Year)
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 becomes member of International Federation of Interior Designers (IFI)
1982		Design Event	First Industrial Design Masters Degree	University of New South Wales offers the first Industrial Design masters Degree in Australia from 1982
1982		Economy	Australian economy in recession	This is defined by two consecutive quarters of decreasing Gross National Product
1982		Technology	286 microprocessor	Number of transistors 134,000 Maximum processor speed 12.5MHz
1983	1983 - 1986	DIA National President	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 Fairfax group
1983		Organisation	Design Institute of Australia named	Industrial Design Institute of Australia (IDIA) formed in 1958 renamed
1983	1983 - 1984	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 6.73% (Financial Year)
1983	1983 - 1984	Economy	Unemployment 9.6% (Annual Average)	Highest Month February '84 at 10.4%
1983	1983 -	Organization	The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering formed	An independent, industry-linked institute committed to fostering excellence and innovation in advanced engineering throughout Australia. It is a self-funding 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 development; 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.	Link
1984	1984 - 1985	Economy	Unemployment 8.6% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '85 at 9.3%
1984	1984 - 1985	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 4.31% (Financial Year)
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 Government	Department of Industry, Technology & Commerce named.	Senator the Hon. John N Button, Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce from 13.12.84 to 24.3.93. Department previously known as the Department of Industry and Commerce.
1985		Federal Government	Austrade	Austrade is the Australian Trade Commission - the federal government's export and investment facilitation agency. They help Australians win export business and generate inward and outward investment.	Link
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	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$399.60
1985	1985 - 1986	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 8.41% (Financial Year)
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	Link
1986	1986 - 1987	Economy	Unemployment 8.3% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '87 at 9.1%
1986	1986 - 1987	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 9.39% (Financial Year)
1986	1986 - 1987	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$428.00
1986	1986 - 1988	DIA National President	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 Government	National Industries Extension Service (NIES)	Memorandum of understanding between the States & Commonwealth to coordinate State and Federal 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	1987 - 1988	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$454.40
1987	1987 - 1988	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 7.34% (Financial Year)
1987	1987 - 1988	Economy	Unemployment 7.8% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '88 at 8.2%
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 Council (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	1988 - 1989	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 7.30% (Financial Year)
1988	1988 - 1989	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$487.30
1988		Organization	Australian Graphic Design Association formed	A national, voluntary, non-profit organisation to facilitate the advancement of the graphic design profession in Australia	Link
1988	1988 - 1992	DIA National President	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	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$521.00
1989	1989 - 1990	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 7.99% (Financial Year)
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, Technology 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 industry, business, design, education and government. Organised by the National Design Forum for the National Industry Extension Service (NIES) a business unit of the Department of Industry, Technology, and Commerce. Assisted by the Australia Council.
1990	1990 May -	Federal Government	Cooperative Research Centres commence	CRCs promote R&D interaction between public and industry sectors. Federal government programme. Managed by the Sciences Programs Branch Department of Education, Science and Training (2003)	Link
1990	1990 - 1991	Economy	Unemployment 8.3% (Annual Average)	Highest month April '91 at 9.9%
1990	1990 - 1991	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 5.3% (Financial Year)
1990	1990 - 1991	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$555.40
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 Australian 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 Commonwealth 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 Australian Design Summit 1989 that there is .."a need for a national body to provide a focus for design in Australia." Produces 1995 report Competing by Design
1991	1991 - 1995	DIA National Executive Secretary	Geoffrey Fairhall
1991	1991 - 1996	Prime Minister	Paul Keating	Australian Labour Party (ALP)
1991		Economy	World recession
1991		Organisation	Australian Securities and Investments Commission (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
1991	1991 - 1992	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$580.80
1991	1991 - 1992	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 1.9% (Financial Year)
1991	1991 - 1992	Economy	Unemployment 10.3% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '92 at 11.5%
1992	1992 - 1993	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 1.03% (Financial Year)
1992	1992 - 1993	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$591.00
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
1992	1992 - 1995	DIA National President	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	Link
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 Australian Design of the Year. The program included recognition 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.
1993	1993 - 1994	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$609.10
1993	1993 - 1994	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 1.85% (Financial Year)
1993	1993 - 1994	Economy	Unemployment 10.5% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '94 at 11.5%
1994	1994 - 1995	Economy	Unemployment 8.9% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '95 at 9.9%
1994	1994 - 1995	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 3.17% (Financial Year)
1994	1994 - 1995	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$633.90
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 administered 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.
1995	1995 - 1997	DIA National Executive Secretary	Roger Buxton
1995	1995 - 1996	DIA National President	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 consumer watchdog against dishonest and unfair business behaviour. Formerly the Trade Practices and Prices Surveillance Authority.
1995		Organisation	Telecom Australia becomes Telstra Corporation 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
1995	1995 - 1996	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$662.50
1995	1995 - 1996	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 4.21% (Financial Year)
1995	1995 - 1996	Economy	Unemployment 8.5% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '96 at 9.4%
1995		Federal Government	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.	Link
1996	1996 - 1997	Economy	Unemployment 8.7% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '97 at 9.8%
1996	1996 - 1997	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 1.35% (Financial Year)
1996	1996 - 1997	Economy	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$688.20
1996	1996 November 25 - 1996 November 26	Design Event	Innovation by Design 96 conference. Melbourne.	An Australian Academy of Design conference in association with the Australian Quality Council.
1996	1996 - 1999	DIA National President	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
1996		Statistic	Estimated Population 18.311million
1997	1997 -	DIA National Executive Secretary	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 manufacturing	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		Statistic	Estimated Population 18.524million
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	Average weekly earnings, full-time adult ordinary time A$716.80
1997	1997 - 1998	Economy	Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase 0% (Financial Year)
1997	1997 - 1998	Economy	Unemployment 8.3% (Annual Average)	Highest month February '98 at 9.1%
1998		Organization	SIDA Foundation commences	Following unification with the DIA, SIDA resolved to retain its financial assets and to convert its corporate 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 Association (ATDA)
1998	Jun 1998 -	Design Event	Design Institute of Australia amalgamates with Society of Interior Designers of Australia (SIDA)
1998	Jul 1st 1998 -	Design Event	The 'New DIA' commences	Following unification discussions with AGDA, SIDA and ATDA the Design Institute of Australia amalgamates 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 Consolidated pres Holdings Ltd	Son of Kerry Packer, grandson of Sir Frank Packer
1998		Statistic	Estimated Population 18.750million
1998		Statistic	Four-wheel drive vehicles are 12% of new car sales
1999	1999 - 2000	DIA National President	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 passenger 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 General 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		Statistic	Estimated Population 18.96million
1999		Technology	Pentium III microprocessor	Number of transistors 28,100,000 Maximum processor 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		Statistic	Estimated Population 19.157million
2000		Technology	Pentium 4 microprocessor	Number of transistors 42,000,000 Maximum processor speed 1500MHz
2001		Organisation	CREATE Australia launches training packages for the national music, film, television, radio and multimedia industries	CREATE Australia is the national Industry Training Advisory Board
2001		Statistic	Estimated Population 19.277million
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 Australian Design Awards
2002		Organization	Triton Foundation commences	Established to assist and promote Australian innovation. 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.	Link
2002	Jul 2002 -	Legislation	Super Guarantee Contributions	Increases from 8 to 9% July 1st 2002
2002	2002 Feb -	Organization	Australian Quality Council acquired by Standards 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 importance of business excellence to SAI the Division has been renamed Business Excellence Australia.	Link
2002	Jun 2002 -	Media	Curve magazine first published in Australia	Edited by Belinda Stenning
N/A		Organisation	Australian Quality Council
N/A		Organisation	Australian Research Council		Link
N/A		Organisation	Australian Universities		Link
N/A		Organisation	Australian Bureau of Statistics		Link
N/A		Organisation	Australian Chamber of Manufactures
N/A		Organisation	Australian Industrial Property Organisation (AIPO)		Link
N/A		Design Event	Australian Design Mark	Issued by Australian Design Awards a subsidiary of Standards Australia
N/A		Design Event	The Australian Design Award	Issued by Australian Design Awards a subsidiary of Standards Australia
N/A		Federal Government	Australian Trade Commissioners	in 50?? Countries
N/A		Federal Government	Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA)
N/A		Federal Government	Department of Industry, Science and Tourism		Link
N/A		Federal Government	Department of Trade & Resources	Federal Department? Funded IDCA?
N/A		Media	Business Review Weekly (BRW)	National Business Magazine	Link
N/A		Organisation	Architecture & Design Panel	Part of the Visual Arts Board
N/A		Organisation	Science and Technology Advisory Bodies		Link
N/A		Organisation	World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)
N/A		Organisation	Defence Science and Technology Organisation		Link
N/A		Organisation	Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
N/A		Organisation	Primary Industries and Energy R&D Corporations		Link