Logo of German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce

Our history

Since its foundation in 1976, AHK Australia, with its long history and experience, has consistently contributed to the promotion of German-Australian trade and the strengthening of exchange in areas such as innovation, technology and science.

Konzept Geschichte aufdecken
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1970

Feb. 1976Initial preparations are made for the opening of a contact office of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHT) in Sydney.
27.01.1977Founding of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce with seven permanent employees and Managing Director Dr Lando Lotter. The office is located at 388 George St., Sydney.
15.06.1977The first newsletter "German Chamber of Industry and Commerce" is published in Australia.
19.07.1977First Annual General Meeting at the Wentworth Hotel, Sydney. Election of R. Gordon Jackson as the first President of the Chamber.
20.07.1977Official opening of the Chamber by the German Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Hans Friderichs and the President of the DIHT, Mr Otto Wolff von Amerongen.
01.11.1978The Chamber opens an office in Melbourne in Hoechst House, St. Kilda Road Head is Mr Gert Adomeit.

1980

Dec. 1981More than 500 members have joined the Chamber.
08.07.1982The Chamber changes its name to the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to strengthen its bilateral character.
01.07.1983Relocation to new offices at 47 York Street, Sydney.
14.11.1989Relocation to new offices at 464 Kent Street, Sydney.

1990

25 – 28.02.1990The Chamber hosts the 3rd German Asia-Pacific Conference.
April 1991Heinrich E. Zimmermann becomes the Chamber's new Managing Director.
Sept. 1992First edition of the "German-Australian Business Journal" is published.
01.09.1993Knut Feddersen becomes the new head of the Melbourne office.
31.03.1993Official business dinner in Sydney with German Foreign Trade Minister Dr Klaus Kinkel as guest speaker.
06.05.1994Former President Hugh Morgan AO becomes an honorary member and John T. Ralph AO becomes the new President of the Chamber. Ralph AO becomes new President of the Chamber.
01.07.1996The German National Tourist Board becomes part of the Chamber in Sydney.
Sept. 1996The German Ambassador to Australia Dr Klaus Zeller takes over the patronage of the Chamber.
5. & 7.02.199720th anniversary celebrations in Sydney and Melbourne with guest of honour Dr Günter Rexrodt, German Minister of Economic Affairs.
08.02.1999The Melbourne office moves to new premises at 14 Queens Road.

2000

13.09.2000The Chamber hosts an official reception as part of the Olympic Games on the MS Deutschland, the official guest ship of NOK Germany.
14.09.2000German-Australian Business Dialogue in Sydney with guest speakers such as Dr Heinrich von Pierer, CEO Siemens, Mark Vaile, Australian Minister for Business and Prof. Dr Eckart Rohkamm, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Thyssen Industries AG. Eckart Rohkamm, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Thyssen Industries AG.
05.05.2001Germany's President Johannes Rau speaks at a Chamber event in Syndey during his visit to Australia.
01.08.2001Klaus Volker Schuurman becomes the new Managing Director of the Chamber.
05.11.2001The Sydney office moves to new premises at 39-41 York Street.
26.02.200225th anniversary of the Chamber and gala evening in Sydney with guests of honour Dr Axel Gerlach, German State Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Mark Vaile, Australian Minister for Business.
23.05.2002Chamber Annual General Meeting and dinner in Melbourne to mark the 25th anniversary with guest of honour John Brumby MP, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development and Innovation, State of Victoria.
27.08.2002Introduction of the new German Ambassador to Australia H.E. Dr Klaus-Peter Klaiber at a Chamber event in Sydney.
13.07.2005Business dinner with the Australian German Association with guest of honour Prof. Dr Eckhard Rohkamm, Chairman of the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV).
6. - 8.09.2005German-Australian Business Conference in Sydney - prospects for regional cooperation with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, the Australian German Association and the German-Asia Pacific Business Association (OAV).
14.03.2006Evening reception with Australian Business in Europe (NSW) to welcome and introduce Mr Bruno Julien, the new Ambassador and Chairman of the EU Delegation for Australia and New Zealand.
21.03.2006Business dinner with the Australian German Association with guest of honour Dr Herwig Schlögl, Deputy Secretary-General of the OECD.
01.04.2007Tina Thoms becomes the new Head of the Melbourne office.
01.07.2007Markus Gilbert takes up office as the new Managing Director.
06.05.200830th anniversary at the Grand Hotel Windsor in Melbourne, in the presence of Hon. Theo Theophanous, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Information and Communication Technology and Minister of Major Projects in the State of Victoria.
19.05. 2008Melbourne branch moves to 443 Little Collins Street.
21.10.2008Gala dinner ‘Golden Past - Sustainable Future’ takes place at the Westin in Sydney.
22.10.2008German-Australian Business Conference on ‘Prosperity and Energy: towards a Sustainable Future’ takes place in Sydney together with the Australian German Association and the Asia Pacific Committee of German Business.
24.11.2008Conference on ‘Solar and Bioenergy in Australia’ is opened by the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Minister for Commerce. He announces a feed-in tariff for NSW.
16.07.2009Hon Simon Crean, Federal Minister for Trade, addresses German and Australian business leaders during a luncheon. Hosted by Lindsay Fox AC, President of the AHK.
22.07.2009Business lunch in Melbourne with Martin Pakula, Minister for Industry and Trade.

2010

01.12.2011Kristian Wolf takes office as the new Managing Director.
31.05.2013Melbourne branch moves to 480 Punt Road, South Yarra.
04.09.2013Reception with our new President Mrs Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO.
31.10.2013German-Australian Business Conference in Melbourne.
23.02.2014Reception in honour of the German Federal Minister of Finance, Dr Wolfgang Schäuble.
24.03.2014Conference on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings.
15.09.2014Mining Conference on Renewable Energy in Brisbane ("Sustainable Technologies in the Mining Sector")
01.10.20141st Ambassador's Gala Dinner in Canberra
20.10.2014Mining Conference in Western Australia ("Smart Mining Concepts")
17.11.2014German-Australian Business Reception with Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel
Feb. 2015Foundation of the 'Competence Centre for 'Mining & Mineral Resources'
Jul. 2015President's Delegation with Mrs Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO, Germany
10.09.2015Australian German Business Conference and 3rd Annual Gala Dinner in Melbourne
21.10.2015Visit by Prof. Dr Maria Boehmer, Minister of State. Maria Boehmer, Minister of State
29.10.2015Foundation of the Queensland Chapter
01.01.2016Introduction of a new position: Policy Director - Dr Michael Zettinig
Feb. 2016New Year's Reception in Sydney/Melbourne
14.04.2016New online presence for our German Consulting Services (http://www.germany-australia.com.au)
03.11.2017 - 05.11.2017The largest conference (Asia-Pacific Regional Conference) in the history of AHK Australia in Perth, Western Australia
01.04.2018
The AHK website gets a mobile-friendly and modern update
01.05.2018
Alexandra Voss takes office as new Managing Director
21.09.2018The Australia-Germany Business Summit and Gala Dinner 2018 in Melbourne

2020

01.05.2020Christop von Spesshardt takes office as the new Managing Director.
01.07.2022Gabriele Rose becomes the new Managing Director.
01.01.2024Marko Walde takes office as the new Managing Director.
01.04.2025The Sydney office moves to 201 Elizabeth Street.

Our founding members