Australian Institute celebrates 100 years

AUSTRALIA: Congratulations to the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) which today marks its official 100-year anniversary.

While the celebrations will probably have to wait until after the current coronavirus crisis, it was on 29 March 1920 that the group was officially incorporated as the Victorian Institute of Refrigeration.

The Victorian Institute of Refrigeration was originally formed to commemorate James Harrison, (17 April 1816 to 3 September 1893) the British Australian newspaper printer, journalist, politician, and refrigeration pioneer.

The Institute changed its name to the Australian Institute of Refrigeration (AIR) in 1935 and, three years later, first met with representatives from the Institute of Refrigerating Engineers NSW (formed in 1929) and the Society of Refrigeration Engineers (formed in 1935). 

In 1941, the Australian Institute of Refrigeration is formed, with headquarters in Melbourne. Over the next three years divisions were formed in West Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

Today the Institute represents over 10,000 air conditioning, refrigeration, heating and ventilation professionals across Australia.