YHA Australia is a youth hostelling association in Australia that is a member association of Hostelling International.
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Youth hostelling in Australia started in 1939 when YHA Victoria was formed in Melbourne. This was followed by YHA New South Wales (1942), YHA South Australia (1949), YHA Tasmania (1951), YHA Western Australia (1951), YHA Queensland (1962) and YHA Northern Territory (1976).[1]
In 1947 the state organisations formed YHA Australia as a federated body to enable Australia to be represented in the International Youth Hostelling Federation (the original name for Hostelling International).
Steps are being taken to consolidate the various state entities into one national organisation. New South Wales, which already covered the Australian Capital Territory, and Northern Territory merged in 2007[2], and a merger between YHA NSW and YHA Queensland was completed on 1 January 2010, forming a new entity called YHA Ltd.[3] YHA Victoria members also voted to merge with YHA Ltd, with effect from 1 January 2012.
YHA Australia has a network of 100 places to stay, ranging from large urban properties to eco-hostels in the bush. All offer clean, comfortable, quality accommodation at low cost, for independent travellers, groups and families. The properties are mostly located on the coast, but there are some in the centre of Australia in the Northern Territory. During 2009, YHA in Australia expanded considerably, with new properties opening in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
Sydney Central YHA won the 'Best backpacker accommodation' award at the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Australian Tourism Awards, entering the 'Hall of Fame'.[4]
Sydney Harbour YHA has also won numerous awards, as have the flagship YHAs in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.