Timeline of Australian Philanthropy
From PhilanthropyWiki
This timeline is a work in progress and we welcome additions. We are especially interested in information regarding major bequests and the establishment of major grantmaking foundations. The focus is on philanthropy (voluntary giving) rather than on the not-for-profit sector in general.
Please contact us if you have any questions or suggestions.
- 1881 - The Wyatt Benevolent Institution formed
- 1904 - The Felton Bequest established
- 1907 - Administration and Probate Duties Act (in Victoria) established that ”no duty whatsoever shall be payable thereunder in respect of any public charitable bequest or public charitable settlement…”
- 1915 - Administration and Probate Act 1915 (in Victoria) Repealed and consolidated 1907 Administration and Probate Duties Act. Established that “no duty shall be payable under this Act in respect of any public charitable bequest or public charitable settlement, whether the public institution in whose favour such bequest or settlement is made is or is not in existence at the time of the making of the bequest or settlement”
- 1934 - Death of Sidney Myer
- 1935 - The Sidney Myer Fund established
- 1941 - The Dafydd Lewis Trust established
- 1951 - The Helen M Schutt Trust established
- 1951 - Administration and Probate (Estates) Act (Vic) 1951 Allowed gifts for charitable purposes to be deductions from the “final balance” that would be subject to duty – “for religious or public scientific or public educational purposes in Victoria, or to a public hospital or public benevolent society in Victoria”.
- 1959 - The Myer Foundation established by Ken and Bailieu Myer
- 1964 - The Ian Potter Foundation established
- 1964 - The William Buckland Foundation established
- 1965 - The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust established
- 1970 - The Reichstein Foundation established
- 1970 - The R E Ross Trust established
- 1972 - The George Alexander Foundation established
- 1973 - The Melbourne Newsboys Club Foundation established
- 1975 - A steering committee was appointed to investigate possibility of forming an association of Australian philanthropic trusts and foundations
- 1976 - Victoria abolishes death duties – thereby ridding Victoria of its extra tax incentives to establish grantmaking foundations by will (from the Administration and Probate (Estates) Act 1951)
- 1977 - The Australian Association of Philanthropy was established on 1st of December
- 1985 - The Victorian Women’s Trust established with a gift from the State Government of Victoria
- 1988 - The Australian Association of Philanthropy establishes a permanent part-time secretariat
- 1989 - The National Foundation for Australian Women established
- 1992 - Death of Kenneth Myer (son of Sidney Myer) and bequest of the residue of his estate to The Myer Foundation
- 1995 - Industry Commission Inquiry into Charitable Organisations in Australia
- 1995 - The Australian Association of Philanthropy secretariat moves from part-time to full-time
- 1997 - The Australian Association of Philanthropy changes name to Philanthropy Australia Inc
- 1998 - The Community Partnerships Roundtable convened
- 1999 - Community Partnerships Roundtable changes name to the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership
- 2000 - The Australian Youth Foundation and the Queen’s Trust for Young Australians merge to create the Foundation for Young Australians
- 2000 - Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal established with funding from the Sidney Myer Fund and the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
- 2000 - The Harold Mitchell Foundation established
- 2001 - Tax changes enabling establishment of Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs)
- 2001 - Helen M Schutt Trust changes name to the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
- 2001 - The Nelson Meers Foundation – the first PPF - established
- 2001 - Inquiry into the Definition of Charitable and Related Organisations is announced by the Federal Government
- 2007 - Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership closes with the change of government.