ARA History

The Australian Retailers Association - a historical snap shot

The ARA has a heritage of over 100 years in protecting and promoting the retail industry's interests. As Australia's retailing sector has proliferated, diversified and matured, so has the ARA. In the past year we have seen an immense change within the organisation with the reinvigoration of its brand, a new executive team and the expansion of the ARA's service offering, but little has been documented of the ARA's history.  The ARA Retailer has traced the steps of the ARA's long history to see how it has become the organisation it is today.

On May 15 1903, representatives of David Jones, Farmers, Hordern Bros., John Hunter and Son Ltd., W. T. Waters and Co. Ltd., Grace Bros. and W. Buckingham met and decided to form an association for the advancement of the retail industry in NSW. The new organisation, called the Master Retailers Association of NSW, was set up for retailers to "cooperate in a general way for the protection and promotion of the interests of members in so far as only as the reception, retailing, sale or delivery of their goods was concerned".

The formation was a reflection of the buoyant and optimistic outlook at the time.  Australia had just federated, there was a new constitution and the economy was growing thanks to the industrial revolution. The conditions were right and retailers saw it as a propitious time for the start of a cooperative effort.

Eligible members included retailers of boots, clothing, crockery, drapery, fancy goods, furniture, general furnishings, grocery, hats, ironmongery, jewellery, mercery, millinery, sporting materials, tailoring and tobacconist goods. By 1910, the Master Grocers folded its organisation and also joined the Master Retailers Association of NSW.

During its first 20 years, employers began to see the benefits of an organisation prepared to represent their interests and stand up to the demands of a growing union movement. Subsequently the association enjoyed rapid growth, solidifying its position as a legitimate employers' association. Early in the organisation's history, most retail members were CBD based. As the public transport system developed, more retailers began expanding to the suburbs and membership grew rapidly. In 1921 the name of the association changed to The Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales (RTANSW).

As the RTANSW proliferated, so too did retail trade associations in other states.  With the advent of World War II and the troubles regulations were having on the retail industry, the Australian Council of Retailers was formed in 1940. The creation of the Australian Council of Retailers was not only for the benefit and protection of retailer's interests but also to give greater assistance to the Government in connection with the war-time regulations and laws.

Member Associations included the RTANSW, the Country Traders Association of NSW, the Retail Traders Association of Victoria (RTAV), the Retail Traders Association of SA (RTASA), the Retail Traders Association of WA (RTAWA), the Tasmanian Master Drapers & Clothiers' Association and the Australian Retail Furnishers' Association. 

Employers' organisations followed the Federated system but continued to run as state-based associations. The first president was Sir Sydney Snow, with A H Tolley and J R Campbell appointed vice-presidents, H Dyson Sales treasurer and Sid Bennett as secretary. The first annual conference of Australian Council of Retailers delegates was held in the board room of the Commercial Travellers' Club in Melbourne in May 1943.

The Australian Council of Retailers functioned until 1974 when it changed its name to the Australian Retailers' Association. This was in an effort to improve its image and standing as a peak retailing body.  It was dominated by the major national chains but also had the various state associations as members who serviced the Association. 

In 1989 the name was changed to the Retail Traders Associations of Australia - a name that lasted until 1991 when changed again to the Retail Council of Australia (RCA). The RCA had representatives from the major national chains, specialty retailers and the various state associations. Representation was largely at a CEO level and included both food and general merchandise. 

In the late nineties there was a major shift to national awards following the then Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett handing over all Victorian based awards to the Federal system.

In 1996 - as a response to this trend - the council's of The Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales, The Retail Traders' Association of Victoria, The Queensland Retailers Association, The Retail Traders' Association of South Australia and the Tasmanian Chamber of Retailers agreed the issues affecting retailers were no longer exclusively covered by State Governments and it was agreed that a strong nationwide organisation was essential for a consistent industry response across Australia. Based on this consensus, it was agreed these associations amalgamate to become the Australian Retailers Association.  

The process of this amalgamation took almost two an a half years to complete and on December 1 1998, a heads of agreement was signed that paved the way for the restructuring the organisations from a federated council into a national body. 

In May 2004 a new registered organisation was approved under the Workplace Relations Act in which the various state bodies became divisions of the Australian Retailers Association. The Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales officially became the Australian Retailers Association - New South Wales division; The Retail Traders Association of Victoria became the Australian Retailers Association - Victorian division; The Retail Traders Association of South Australia became the Australian Retailers Association - South Australian division and the Retail Traders Association of Tasmania became the Australian Retailers Association - Tasmanian division. Queensland was the only state not to join.

In October 2006 the rules of the Association were further changed with the state divisions being abolished and new structure that saw Australian Retailers Association (ARA) become a true national organisation. The assets of the individual divisions were merged and a new national council that provided representation for both single state and national operators throughout Australia was established. 

Today, the ARA is Australia's peak industry body representing Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.5 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act, the ARA now offers a comprehensive range of member services including business consulting, policy development, training and education, as well as advocacy to promote and protect the interests of over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia. As the retail industry changes and develops, the ARA will continue evolve to ensure members get the best representation and services available.  To find out how the ARA can help you call our membership team on 1300 368 041 or email.

Milestones in the ARA's history

1903 - Master Retailers Association of NSW formed

1910 - Master Grocers folds and joins Master Retailers Association of NSW

1921 - Name changed to The Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales (RTANSW)

1940 - Australian Council of Retailers formed

1943 - First Australian Council of Retailers annual conference held in Melbourne

1974 - The Australian Council of Retailers becomes The Australian Retailers Association

1989 - The Australian Retailers Association becomes the Retail Traders Association of Australia

1991 - The Retail Traders Association of Australia becomes the Retail Council of Australia

1998 - Heads of agreement from state associations signed to amalgamate into the Australian Retailers Association

2004 - Australian Retailers Association approved as a registered organisation under the Workplace Relations Act

2006 - State divisions abolished and the Australian Retailers Association becomes a truly national body.