Avicultural Society of South Australia first in nation from 1928; initiates united front for bird keepers in 1979
The Avicultural Society of South Australia initiated the The United Bird Societies of South Australia in 1979 as an umbrella movement of the state bird-keeping clubs to protect their interests.
The Avicultural Society of South Australia was formed in 1928 – the first and oldest of its type in Australia and the third-longest-established avicultural society in the English-speaking world.
The society was a response to 1927 plans, announced by Australian prime minister Stanley Bruce, to ban the import of all avian species into Australia. This followed poultry industry concerns that exotic diseases could be brought in by foreign birds. South Australia, as Australia’s leading avicultural state, opposed the ban. Several South Australian prominent aviculturists confirmed the opposition at one of their regular Friday late night trading informal gatherings at Foglia’s bird shop in Rundle Street East, Adelaide city.
Claude Bennett offered his gymnasium rooms (formerly City Steam Biscuit Factory of the future Balfaurs bakey) in Twin Street, Adelaide city, for a meeting concerned birdkeepers. Pirie Street printer George Lewis produced leaflets advertising a meeting, publicised by the Register newspaper. The Avicultural Society of South Australia was formed at the meeting, with Dr. W. Hamilton as president and C. Bennett honorary secretary.
The proposed federal government import ban on foreign avian species wasn’t enforced until 1949 – again after lobbying by the bigger poultry producers citing the threat exotic avian diseases. The suspected real reason was that bigger producers had the latest strain of fast-growing chickens from the United States of America and didn’t want their small competitors to get them.
Occasional attempts to restrict birdkeeping in South Australia were usually overcome or changed to be acceptable. This was only possible by the united efforts of the society members and another of its initiatives, since 1979: The United Bird Societies of South Australia. This umbrella organisation gave groups such as the Budgerigar Society of South Australia, Adelaide Canary Society, Northeast Budgerigar Society, Pheasant and Waterfowl Society of South Australia the chance to work with the Avicultural Society of South Australia in representing matters affecting the keeping of birds in South Australia at federal, state and local government level.
The Avicultural Society of South Australia prospered with monthly meetings, a magazine Bird Keeping In Australia, and country branches in Wallaroo and Mount Gambier. The society objectives included:
• study of native and foreign birds,
• conserving native birds in freedom and enabling viable breeding populations of all suitable birds in captivity, • hygienic keeping and scientific feeding and breeding of birds in captivity in the best and most natural conditions,
• arranging lectures by visiting and local aviculturists and naturalists on matters relating to native and foreign birds and
• disseminating avicultural information.
