Metrication in Australia

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From the early 1960s until 1988 Australia ran a metrication programme withdrawing imperial units of measurement from general legal use. It was designed to move the country from the imperial weights and measures system, which was largely inherited from its British colonial history, to a European-style metric system based on the International System of Units.

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[edit] History

In 1947, Australia signed the Convention du Mètre (or Metre Convention), which made metric units legal for use in Australia, although they were not commonly used in practice until the 1970s. In 1960, SI units were adopted by international agreement at the General Conference on Weights and Measures and subsequently came to form the basis of Australia's measurement standards. The base units adopted were the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin,[1] candela and mole. All other units of measure are said to be derived units.

In 1970, Australia created the Metric Conversion Board with the passage of the Metric Conversion Act by the national parliament.

In 1971, the wool industry became one of the first industries to convert to the metric system in Australia.

In 1972, the system was introduced to primary schools followed by secondary schools in 1973.

By late 1974, many industries had converted to the metric system, including packaged grains, dairy products, eggs, building, timber, paper, printing, meteorological services, postal services, communications, road transport, travel, textiles, gas, electricity, surveying, sport, water supply, mining, metallurgy, chemicals, petroleum, and automotive services. Most beverages, aside from spirits, had also converted to metric units by the end of 1974.

By 1977, all packaged goods were labelled in metric units, and the air transport, food, energy, machine tool, electronic and electrical engineering and appliance manufacturing industries had converted.

The Metric Conversion Board was dissolved in 1981, although the conversion to the metric system was not completed until 1988. Between 1981 and 1988 the conversion was the responsibility of the National Standards Commission in Australia.

In 1987, real estate became the last major industry to convert.

In 1988, the few remaining imperial units were removed from general use.

[edit] Exceptions

Despite metrication being an official success, some aspects of Australian life have retained usage of the customary imperial measures. For example, after a short period in which hardware stores were required by law to sell metric bolts, a relaxation of the law allowed for pre-metric fasteners to be sold, as well. Currently, both Whitworth and metric nuts and bolts are readily available, but Whitworth bolts are stocked in a greater range of sizes.

In many cases imperial units continue to be commonly used in spoken and sometimes written form. Examples include reference to a newborn baby's weight in pounds. Land areas are sometimes quoted in acres. A person's height is more often than not informally discussed in feet and inches.

The sizes of beer glasses are based on older imperial standards rounded to the nearest 5 ml.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The kelvin was known as the degree Kelvin at the time.

[edit] Further reading

  • Metrication in Australia by Kevin Joseph Wilks (DITAC - Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce)
  • History of Measurement in Australia Department of Industry Tourism and Resources, National Measurement Institute.
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