Australian Unity

Australian Unity is an Australian mutual company having its origins in the friendly societies movement. It was formed as the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) in Melbourne, Victoria on 7 December 1840 by eight men including Thomas Strode, publisher of the Port Phillip Gazette and Augustus Greeves, inspired by Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity. In 1993, Manchester Unity merged with the Australian Natives' Association to form Australian Unity. Later mergers occurred with Grand United Friendly Society in 2005, Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society in 2009, and Big Sky Credit Union in 2012.[1] Australian Unity has about 8,500 employees across healthcare, insurance and banking (in the guise of Big Sky Credit Union) divisions.[2]

Australian Unity
TypeMutual
Industry
  • Health
  • Living
  • Wealth
PredecessorsManchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF), Australian Natives' Association (ANA)
Founded7 December 1840 (1840-12-07) in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Founders
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
Area served
Australia
Products
Number of employees
7,500 (2018)
Websitewww.australianunity.com.au

In 2012 Big Sky was merged with Australian Unity to become the banking arm of Australian Unity.[3][4] Ownership of Big Sky Credit Union Limited was transferred to Australian Unity Limited's subsidiary Lifeplan Australia Building Society Limited and renamed Big Sky Building Society Limited. Members of Big Sky Credit Union became members of Australian Unity.[5][6]

The Manchester Unity Building is a Gothic Revival skyscraper in Melbourne, Australia, constructed in 1932.[7][8] The building was compulsorily acquired by the Commonwealth in 1947.[9]

History
Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF)
Main article: Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity § Australian Lodge (1849–1993)
Australian Natives' Association
Main article: Australian Natives' Association
Grand United Friendly Society
Main article: Grand United Order of Oddfellows

Grand United Order of Oddfellows Friendly Society (GUOOFS)

Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society
Big Sky Credit Union
Main article: Big Sky Credit Union

References
  1. McDermott, Alex (2015), Of no personal influence : how people of common enterprise unexpectedly shaped Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria: Australian Unity, ISBN 978-0-646-93093-0
  2. "A proud history dating back to 1840". Australian Unity. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  3. "Big Sky gets bigger". 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  4. "Big Sky members vote in favour of Australian Unity deal". Financial Standards. 24 February 2012.
  5. "Big Sky gets bigger". Australian Banking and Finance. 2 March 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  6. "Australian Unity appoints institutional business development manager". www.professionalplanner.com.au. 25 October 2016.
  7. "Manchester Unity I.O.O.F. : A £200,000 Structure". The Age. 27 July 1931. p. 11. Retrieved 9 April 2018 – via Trove.
  8. "Manchester Unity Building - A Notable Enterprise". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 1 September 1932. p. 6. Retrieved 9 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Manchester Unity Building - Acquisition Described as "Unjust"". The Age. Melbourne, Vic. 23 August 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 9 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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