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​LOOKING BACK

RECAPPING 100 YEARS OF AIRAH AND HVAC&R

1919

The Victorian Institute of Refrigeration forms to commemorate James Harrison, the inventor and pioneer of the refrigeration process in Australia.
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1920

The Victorian Institute of Refrigeration is incorporated by guarantee.

1929

The Institute of Refrigerating Engineers NSW forms in Sydney.

1935

Eric Ebeling, "Ginger" McCullagh and Jack Turbill form the Society of Refrigeration Engineers (NSW) in Sydney.
The Victorian Institute of Refrigeration changes its name to the Australian Institute of Refrigeration (AIR).
Pictured at Soden's Hotel, Albury in 1938 are (back row, left to right): K. Halliwell, E.A. Molesworth, G.H. Coleman, J.T. Perry, E.E. Crouch and E.W. Boulton and (front row, left to right): J.H. Liddle, P.E. Carpenter, E.R. Gordon, W.J. Young and H.C. Brewer.
Pictured at Soden's Hotel, Albury in 1938 are (back row, left to right): K Halliwell, EA Molesworth, GH Coleman, JT Perry, EE Crouch and EW Boulton and (front row, left to right): JH Liddle, PE Carpenter, ER Gordon, WJ Young and HC Brewer.

1938

A meeting is held in Albury, NSW of delegates from Victoria’s Australian Institute of Refrigeration, the Institute of Refrigerating Engineers NSW, and the Society of Refrigeration Engineers.
​The first Australasian Congress of Refrigeration and Dairying is held at the Royal Agriculture Society of NSW Showground in Sydney.

1941

Following a meeting in Albury, NSW, a decision is made to form the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, with headquarters in Melbourne.

1942
​
–1944


Divisions form in West Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
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1947

​
​The first issue of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration’s official journal (The Refrigeration Journal) is published.

1948

The Refrigeration Journal publishes its first scientific article by a woman. It is a three-part series on microbiology and the preservation of food, written by Nancy Atkinson, lecturer in charge of the Department of Bacteriology at the University of Adelaide. 

1956

The Victorian division initiates a national celebration for a “centenary of refrigeration”.
"One hundred years ago the refrigeration industry was born, and australia was its birthplace. out of james harrison's simple compressor grew a complex engineering and economical structure which now spans the world... frozen foods, cold rubber, ice-cream, jet plane cockpit cooling, dam building, Salk vaccine, dehydro freezing, bone and artery banks, coal mining, tool steel ageing and supermarkets​ – where will it end?"
– ​The Refrigeration Journal, September 1956

1957

The James Harrison Scholarship is initiated in Victoria.

1958

The First Australian Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Exhibition and Convention is held at the Royal Agriculture Society of NSW Showground in Sydney. The Australian Institute of Refrigeration welcomes its first honorary members – guest lecturers Professor Rudolph Plank (Germany) and George Taubeneck (USA).
Membership of the Australian Institute of Refrigeration reaches 1,000 people.

1959

In October, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration agrees to change its name to the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) to recognise the growth of the air conditioning industry.

​The name change is officially adopted and announced in May 1960.
"The three letters a.i.r. are to make way to the new word 'airah,' the abbreviation under which the institute hopes to become known and respected as the representative organisation of the entire field of temperature control and air engineering."
– ​The Refrigeration Journal, May 1960
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1960

AIRAH’s journal is renamed Refrigeration, Air Conditioning & Heating.
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1962

AIRAH becomes an associate member of ASHRAE.

1968

New headquarters are established at Melbourne’s National Science Centre.

1969

The Tasmania division is formed and AIRAH reaches 1,763 members.
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1972


​Aligned to metrication in Australia (which began in 1971), AIRAH’s journal officially adopts Celsius.


​The James Harrison Medal is introduced to commemorate outstanding work by individuals within the science and/or practice of refrigeration, air conditioning and heating in Australia.

It is first awarded to Dr. James R Vickery (below left) following a 1973 presentation at AIRAH's Conference dinner.
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1973

The Sydney Opera House is officially completed; AIRAH's journal highlights its innovative air conditioning.

1978

AIRAH signs a memorandum of understanding with the Society of Heating, Air Conditioning and Sanitary Engineers (SHASE) in Japan.
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1979

The WR Ahern Award is introduced to celebrate the author(s) of the best paper published each year in AIRAH’s journal.

1981

The Excellence Award is introduced to acknowledge projects or aspects of projects that embody excellence in relation to invention, innovation, design, operation, maintenance or energy conservation. Aesthetics, environmental and community benefits are also considered.
The Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory divisions are formed.

1983
​
–1986


Fiji and Papua New Guinea chapters form.

1988

Regional chapters form for the Gold Coast and North Queensland.

1989

AIRAH releases its first Industry Directory. The publication is still in print today as the HVAC&R Search Compendium.
AIRAH presents its inaugural Women in Engineering Award to Cheryl Van Der Stoep.
The first AIRAH Handbook is published.
The Illawarra, NSW chapter forms.

1990

After work commenced in 1987, the James Harrison Bridge officially opens in Geelong on September 21.
The global CFC phase-down begins.
The last of the state organised AIRAH national conferences is held; as of 1991, conferences are coordinated by the federal office and rotated around the states.
The first two-day technical education program is developed and delivered. It covers Legionella.
AIRAH celebrates its 70-year anniversary.
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1991

A six-day training course on ammonia refrigeration is developed and delivered.

1992

The education committee is formed.
AIRAH becomes a member of the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR).
The ASNZ 1668 training course – Smoke Prevention and Mechanical Ventilation – is developed and delivered.
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1993

Fellow membership grade is introduced.
AIRAH’s national office moves to 52 Rosslyn St, West Melbourne. Called James Harrison House, it officially opens on September 3 – the 100th anniversary of James Harrison’s death. A special issue of AIRAH’s journal is released in commemoration.

1994

The Queensland division celebrates its 50-year anniversary.

1995

AIRAH’s Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Exhibition in Melbourne welcomes a record-breaking 5,000 attendees.
The Geelong chapter forms.
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AIRAH celebrates its Diamond Jubilee, burying a 75th anniversary time capsule. The time capsule will be opened this year, as part of our 100-year celebrations.
TIME CAPSULE

1996

As of January 1, it is illegal to import or manufacture CFCs in Australia.
The inaugural Ammonia Training five-day course takes place at the Ammonia Refrigeration Training Centre in Werribee, Vic.

1997

The first version of the DA19 HVAC&R Maintenance manual is released.
AIRAH’s Council approves the reduction to the AIRAH Board, reducing the number of councillors from 37 to 11.
AIRAH gets an online presence with the launch of its first website.
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The Journal celebrates 50 years of publication.
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A Legionnaire’s outbreak occurs at the Melbourne Aquarium.
AIRAH sells its West Melbourne office and relocates its national office to Level 7, 1 Elizabeth St, Melbourne.


​2000

Clive Broadbent, L.AIRAH, an engineer with expertise on preventive measures for Legionnaires’ disease hazards, is awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia.
​AIRAH and ARBS host the 2000+ Conference in Sydney.
The cover of the AIRAH 2000+ Conference guide.


​2001

The National Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Council is formed in December; Australian Refrigeration Council tick certification is released.
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​2002

AIRAH’s Board approves the restructure of the divisional committees, with volunteers to focus on member events and the national office overseeing finances.
Special interest conferences are introduced.
AIRAH’s journal is moved in-house and rebranded as Ecolibrium.
Member voting on AIRAH’s proposed name change to the Institute of Environmental Engineering takes place. An overwhelming response is received to remain known as AIRAH.
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2003

AIRAH is involved in R410a training.

2004

AIRAH and the Institute of Hospital Engineers Australia sign a memorandum of understanding for strategic partnership.
​The Water Treatment Victoria Code of Practice and Training Program is developed and released.

2005

AIRAH moves its national office to a bigger space from Level 7 to Level 3 at 1 Elizabeth St, Melbourne.

2006

The Graduate Certificate in Air Conditioning Code Compliance is released.
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2007

AIRAH assists the Australian Refrigeration Council in the ARC licence Recognition of Prior Learning certifications – ARC assessment program.
HVAC&R Nation, AIRAH’s magazine for end users and tradespeople, is published for the first time.
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2008

AIRAH's Board is altered to include five members and one discretionary member.
Ecolibrium gets a major rebrand in July.

2009

The first AIRAH Awards gala takes place.

2010

AIRAH celebrates its 90th anniversary, including an anniversary conference.
AIRAH expands its training into online courses.

2011

Working in conjunction with the International Building Performance Simulation Association, AIRAH holds the International building Simulation Conference in Sydney.
The first Refrigeration Conference takes place.

2013

The Future of HVAC Conference is held for the first time.

2016

​AIRAH’s first female President, Ania Hampton, M.AIRAH, is appointed.
​The Graduate Training Program (now called the Professional Diploma in Building Services – HVAC&R) pilot program is held.
Women of AIRAH is formed, recognising the importance of diversity and inclusion.

2017

The inaugural Building Physics Forum takes place.

2018

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The HVAC&R News site and e-newsletter are launched.
​


HVAC&R News
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HVAC&R Search – the comprehensive online directory featuring the who’s who of the Australian HVAC&R industry – makes its debut.
HVAC&R SEARCH
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The AIRAH on Air podcast releases its first episode.
​
​
AIRAH on AIR
​AIRAH signs a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE).
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2019


​AIRAH signs a memorandum of understanding with the United Kingdom's Institute of Refrigeration.
​
​The first Big Data
and Analytics Forum
​takes place in Sydney.

​
AIRAH Express
student e-news
​is launched.
​
The inaugural
​HVAC&R Emerging Trends Symposium is held in Perth.


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​
​The Innovation Hub for Affordable Heating and Cooling (i-Hub) is launched. The initiative is led by AIRAH in conjunction with CSIRO, Queensland University of Technology, the University of Melbourne and the University of Wollongong and supported by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to facilitate the HVAC&R industry’s transition to a low emissions future, stimulate job growth and showcase building innovations.
See more

The first HVAC&R Search Compendium is released. The A4 publication is a revision to the Industry Directory, with a distribution to over 9,000 people.

2020

AIRAH celebrates 100 years!
digital museum
100 faces
looking ahead

© The Australian Institute of refrigeration, air conditioning and heating (AIRAH)
James Harrison Centre | Level 3, 1 Elizabeth StreeT, Melbourne Vic 3000


http://www.airah.org.au
E: airah@airah.org.au
T: 03 8623 3000

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