VPRS 10105 Correspondence [Australian Natives' Association / Australasian Women's Association]

Full description

This series was originally transferred to archives with minimal documentation which has not been evaluated. All information currently available to PROV has been incorporated into this series registration. This registration will be updated when further research is subsequently undertaken.

The Australian Natives Association (ANA) was established in Melbourne in 1871. It was founded as a friendly society whose membership was open to Australian-born males only. It gradually established city and country branches in Victoria. The ninth branch to be formed was in Charters Towers, Queensland in 1879. By 1901, a total of 205 branches had been formed. When the ANA was formed, it had two aimsto act as a friendly society offering financial support to its members in need, and to promote the moral, social and intellectual improvement of its members. It shunned traditional friendly society practices of ritual and regalia and set its sights on influencing public thinking and government policy on a range of issues related to Australian nationalism.
The ANA provided services such as sick pay and funeral benefits. It was also an important presence in many communities through its debates, concerts and other social activities. In the late nineteenth century the ANA actively promoted the cause of federation of the Australian colonies. Australias first two Prime Ministers, Sir Edmund Barton and Sir Alfred Deakin, were members of the ANA, as was Australias first Australian-born Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs. In the twentieth century, the ANA continued to provide various health services to its members. In common with other friendly societies, it also expanded into other areas. In 1948 the ANA General Insurance Company was established and in 1964 the ANA Permanent Building Society was established. The Australian Natives Association (Victoria) merged with Manchester Unity (Victoria) to form Australian Unity in 1993.