The Britain–Australia Society was established in 1971^[1] as a friendship society to promote historic links between the United Kingdom and Australia. It has headquarters in the Australia Centre within Australia House in London, and branches throughout the United Kingdom.^[2]

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (February 2020) This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2022)

Quick Facts Formation, Founder ...

Britain–Australia Society

Formation	1971; 53 years ago (1971)
Founder	Lord Carington
Headquarters	Australia House, London
President	William Hague
Chairman of the Board	Damian J. Walsh
Website	www.britain-australia.org.uk

Close

In 1971 Sir Robert Menzies and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, former Prime Ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom, re-founded the pre-existing Australia Club to form two apolitical and non-commercial societies, based in the United Kingdom and Australia.

The aims of the Britain–Australia Society are to:

• Strengthen existing friendship between the United Kingdom and Australia
• Promote educational exchanges
• Arrange social events for members
• Provide a point of contact for Australians visiting the United Kingdom
• Maintain links with Australia
• Be a forum for personal and professional development of talented youth.

Branches are maintained in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Portsmouth, and the West Country. Regional functions are held by these branches in addition to centrally-organised activities.

A primary activity is organising events including diplomatic dinners, seminars, and social gatherings. The West Country branch arranges an annual service of remembrance and lunch in Bath honouring the memory of Admiral Arthur Phillip.

The Society grants an occasional Britain–Australia Society Award to recognise a person who has demonstrated a long-term contribution to relations between the United Kingdom and Australia. Past recipients have been Barry Humphries, Lord Hague, Kylie Minogue, David Attenborough, Lord Carrington and Samantha Cohen.

The Patron of the Society was The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The President is William Jefferson Hague, Baron Hague of Richmond, PC, FRSL (the founding President was Lord Carrington).

The Chairman is Damian Walsh.

Vice Presidents:

• The High Commissioner for Australia – ex officio
• Peter Benson
• Brian Harris
• Sir Roger Carrick
• Rohan Courtney
• The Lord Goodlad
• Michael Whalley
• George Vestey

Honorary Vice-presidents:

• Dale Eaton
• The Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke
• Sylvia Countess of Limerick
• June Mendoza
• Barry Tuckwell

CEO:

• Louise Mulley

As a non-commercial society, administration and events are funded by membership subscriptions, management fees and corporate sponsors, including Australian Government agencies and businesses and organisations with an Australian interest in the United Kingdom or a British interest in Australia, such as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

• Three Charitable Trusts are maintained by the society:
  • The Britain–Australia Society Educational Trust provides sponsorship for young people of both countries, particularly for skills exchange
  • The Northcote Trust funds postgraduate scholarships to Australia
  • The Royal Flying Doctor Service – Friends in the UK.
• The Cook Society was founded in 1969 on the initiative of Prime Ministers Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Sir Robert Menzies, with the aim of promoting British-Australian relations at a high level. It has counterparts in Australian states with which it is in constant touch. Membership of the Society in Britain is limited to 100, excluding honorary members, and represents a wide range of national interests including senior business and professional people, politicians, civil servants and academics. Membership is by invitation only. The Britain-Australia Society administers the Cook Society and shares some events.
• Australian Britain-Australia Society members have reciprocal rights when in Britain, and vice versa.