The first in a series of state-based celebrations to mark The Australian Industry Group’s 150th anniversary this year was held in Brisbane last night.
Ai Group Head of Queensland Rebecca Andrews welcomed members, staff and guests to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre where the city’s skyline offered a stunning backdrop for the momentous occasion.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher and the state’s Opposition Leader David Crisafulli were introduced as guest speakers by Ai Group Chief Executive Innes Willox, pictured with Rebecca and Glenn.
Ai Group has proudly supported Australian industry for 150 years.
Its foundations were laid in December 1873 with the establishment of the Iron Trades Employers' Association in Sydney as a response to the formation of the first trade unions in Australia.
The group’s name was changed to the Metal Trades Employers' Association in 1922 and in 1970, it merged with the Metal Industries Association of Victoria to form the Metal Trades Industry Association Australia (MTIA).
Queensland was brought into the fold in 1936 when the Ironmasters’ Association of Queensland merged with MTEA.
In 1952, a new headquarters for MTEA Queensland, Metal Trades’ House, officially opened at 3 Gregory Tce, Brisbane.
On May 22, 1996, Premier Rob Borbidge officially opened MTIA’s new $2.5million Queensland headquarters at 202 Boundary St, Spring Hill, the same building that houses Ai Group staff in Brisbane today.
Further state-based celebrations for Ai Group’s 150th anniversary will be held throughout the year and a national gala dinner will be held at Melbourne Town Hall in August, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton both attending.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
