Royal Charter - AIB History

Royal Charters, granted by the sovereign on the advice of the Privy Council, have a history dating back to the 13th century. Their original purpose was to create public or private corporations (including towns and cities), and to define their privileges and purpose. Royal Charters were at one time the only means of incorporating a body, but there are now other means (the formation of a Pty Ltd company for example), so the grant of new Charters is comparatively rare. For the past 150 years new grants of Royal Charters are reserved for eminent professional bodies, such as AIB, or charities which have a solid record of achievement and are financially sound. In the case of professional bodies they should represent a field of activity which is unique and not covered by other professional bodies.


The petition to secure the charter

At a meeting of the Privy Council at Arundel Park on 31 July 1969 , Her Majesty the Queen approved granting of a Charter. AIB was incorporated as a 'body corporate and politic' by Royal Charter on 7 October 1969.

When the Royal Charter was granted letters of congratulation were received from the former Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies, the serving Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand, all State Premiers, and most of the related professional associations in Australia and overseas. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, an Honorary Fellow of AIB, sent a congratuory telegram.

AIB was a proud recipient and it was regarded as a collective honour for all the members. One of the privileges provided by the Charter is the right for all corporate members to use the title of Chartered Builder. Australians were the first builders in the world to gain this title.

The 79th meeting of the AIB Council, they have been numbered consecutively in the minute books since the inception of the Institute in 1951 (the February 2008 meeting of the Council was the 216th meeting) took place in Adelaide on 19 September 1969 . This became the first meeting of the Council since incorporation by Royal Charter, and needed to deal with a multitude of ‘housekeeping’ decisions to facilitate the transition to a new legal status including the transfer of all assets and liabilities.

By mid-1970 Australia ’s Governor-General, the Rt. Hon. Sir Paul Hasluck GCMG GCVO KtStJ , as personal representative of the Queen approved by-laws under the Charter which were necessary to replace the Articles of Association of the former entity.

The Governor-General presented the Letters Patent granting the Royal Charter to the AIB President, Alex Rigby, at a Commemorative Dinner held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on 1 June 1970. Amongst the 365 guests was a distinguished array of Federal and State Ministers, the Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Lord Mayor of Sydney and representatives from other professional institutes, universities and government departments. In making the presentation the Governor-General said “it is a great tribute to the work of the Institute and the place it takes in the Australian community”. For most of that year the President and Executive Director were revelling in their new status, busily attending functions in each state and in New Zealand , including with the Governor-Generals of both countries.

Today the Royal Charter hangs in the entrance to the AIB national office and serves as a daily reminder to Councillors and staff of the legacy that they are entrusted with continuing.

AIB History - The Royal Charter