Brief History of The Order of Australia

On February 14, 1975, the Order of Australia was established as an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.

The Order was established and consisted of a Civil Division and a Military Division. The first Australian Honours were announced on the Queen’s Birthday, 1975.

The awards are:

Companion in the Order of Australia	Postnominal Letters "AC"
Officer in the Order of Australia	Postnominal Letters "AO"
Member in the Order of Australia	Postnominal Letters "AM"

In 1976 the Constitution of the Order of Australia was amended by omitting Civil Division and substituting General Division and a grade/degree of Knights and Dames of the Order of Australia was created in the General Division.

In total there were 14 persons admitted to the Order of Australia at that level - 12 Knights and two Dames - none of whom was from South Australia.

A medal was also added to both the General Division and the Military Division.

Medal of the Order of Australia

Postnominal Letters "OAM"

In 1986 the grade/degree of Knight and Dame was removed from the Constitution of the Order of Australia.

It is incorrect to say a person has been "awarded the Order of Australia." The correct terminology is that the person has been "appointed a Companion (AC) or an Officer (AO) or a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia" or has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)".

The number of awards made in South Australia, in the various grades, since 1975 is:

The total of recipients of awards within the State of South Australia, in both the General Division and the Military Division, since 1975, is 2971.