The Australian Natives' Association (ANA) was a mutual society founded in Melbourne, Australia in April 1871. It was founded by and for the benefit of White native-born Australians, and membership was restricted to that group.[1]
The Association's objectives were to "raise funds by subscription, donations ... for the purpose of relieving sick members, and defraying expenses of funeral of members and their wives, relieving distressed widows and orphans and for the necessary expenses of the general management of the Society."[2]
The organisation had up to 95,000 members and provided benefits to 250,000 people, which were members and their families.[3] While the ANA was legally required to have no affiliation with any political party, it was socially active. It provided strong support for the Federation of Australia, sport, afforestation, social well-being and the Federal Government's restricted immigration policy, later referred to as the White Australia policy. The ANA and Manchester Unity agreed to merge to form Australian Unity in 1990. After the merger, social and educative functions continue in the ANA Fraternal organisation. The last remaining branch of the ANA closed in 2007 in Western Australia.[4]
- ^ Helen Irving (1999). To Constitute a Nation: A Cultural History of Australia's Constitution. Cambridge University Press. p. 124. ISBN 9780521668972.
- ^ Menadue J. E., A Centenary History of the Australian Natives' Association 1871–1971, Page 9
- ^ Australian Natives Association, The Hundredth Conference Souvenir, Wodonga 1976, Horticultural Press, Carlton
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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