Our timeline


1886   First meeting held: at the Office of Messrs. Davey, Flack & co, 10 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne at 8.00pm.
Karl Benz drove the first automobile.
1887 160 members Incorporated Institute of Accountants, Victoria (IIAV), later known as CPA Australia, was registered.
1915   Our first female, Mary Addison Hamilton, was admitted to full membership.
1921   Name change from IIAV to CIA, Commonwealth Institute of Accountants.
First sports broadcast on radio takes place.
1936   The first issue of the Australian Accountant was published, Volume 1 No. 1.
1937 4440 members Our Jubilee Convention was held in Sydney amongst much celebration.
Hitler formally abrogates the Treaty of Versailles; 6 May 1937, the German airship Hindenburg burst into flames.
1939   World War II started.
1947 18,000 members Our Diamond Jubilee Convention was held in Melbourne.
1953   FIA and CIA merged to form the Australian Society of Accountants (ASA).
ASA goes international, with official Representatives appointed in London and Singapore.
1955   Our first local representative is appointed in Hong Kong.
1955   Victorian Society of Public Accountants merged with ASA.
1956   Our first local representative was appointed in Kuala Lumpur.
1958   Our request for coat of arms made by the General Council was granted by the College of Arms, London.
1966 24,000 members AICA merged with ASA.
1965   With membership growing internationally, a graduate entry policy was introduced.
1972 40,000 members Our Member Handbook was first advertised in the February issue of The Australian Accountant.
1976   The Introduction of Professional Orientation Program (POP) became compulsory for advancement to Associate.
1981 50,000 members CPD Program, recommending a minimum of 120 hours professional development per triennium, was introduced to support lifelong learning.
Our first woman State President of ASA, Dulce Feige from Queensland, was elected.
IBM releases something called a Personal Computer.
1982
  A task force was formed consisting of senior members working in Commerce, Industry, Government, Public Practice, and Academia. After six months of discussion shared with all Divisional Councillors by exposure drafts, the report of the Task Force was accepted. It recommended that an extra level of membership called CPA be created, with required workplace oriented entry exams for graduates of accredited University courses.
1984   Derrick Docherty received his CPA certificate from Prime Minister, Bob Hawke at Parliament House, Canberra at our first CPA Certificate presentation.
Our first National TV campaign was launched – Not Your Average Accountant – to promote the value of the CPA designation.
1986   CPA Program launched, in conjunction with new requirements for Continuing Professional Development and for Public Practice Certificates. This was marketed as The Professional Schedule and gave credibility to CPA promotion.
1988   Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong branches established.
1990   The ASA changes its name to ASCPA.
1991   The first issue of the Australian Accounting Review was published.
1992   The member offer continues to evolve with our first Members Handbook on disk first published.
Our New Zealand office opened.
1995 73,000 members Our new leading edge website, CPA Online, was launched providing knowledge, training and information at the touch of a mouse.
75,000th member certificate presented.
2000   ASCPA becomes CPA Australia.
2002   Beijing Office opened.
2003 100,000 members We reached 100,000 members.
2006   Shanghai Office opened.
2007   For the first time more females than men enrolled in the CPA Program.
2008   CPA Australia released first Sustainability Annual Report.
Congress offered via Second Life.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offices opened.
2009   CPA Congress held for the first time overseas with the inaugural event hosted in Singapore.
Our innovative Career Guidance System launched to support the career development of
our members.
2011 130,000 members CPA Australia celebrates its 125th anniversary.
2012
  INTHEBLACK.COM launched.
Guangzhou office opened.
Established Indigenous Accountants Australia initiative in partnership with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.
2014
  We reached 150,000 members.
2015
  INTHEBLACK fortnightly e-newsletter launched.
CPA Australia celebrates 50 years in the Northern Territory.
2016
155,000 members
CPA Australia celebrates its 130th anniversary.
Launch of CPA Australia Advice.
CPA Australia celebrates 60 years in Malaysia and Hong Kong.
2018 Co-hosted the World Congress of Accountants, held in Sydney in November with 6000 delegates.
2019 
   Launched inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) that formalises CPA Australia’s commitment to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander peoples.