Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia

The first meeting at the Society at Friends in Australia took place in Hobart, 1833. In 1902 the first Australia General Meeting was held, continuing until 1963, to be superseded the following year by the Australian Yearly Meeting. The Canberra Preparative Meeting began in 1954, attached to the Sydney Monthly Meeting. In 1964 an independent Canberra Regional Meeting was established, constituting the Canberra and Riverina Local Meetings.

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) are an organisation comprised of individuals whose religion emphasises the mystical and personal experience of God. They translate their experience of mysticism into outward action, carrying out charitable works, and objections to what they view as injustices in society. The Religious Society of Friends began in Britain in the 17th Century (1652) in Britain with the teachings of George Fox and its break-away from the traditional Christian churches at the time when the Bible was first translated into English. George Fox pointed out that the Bible does not mention anything about consecrated ground, paid clergy, or fixed forms of service, but that it states that "when two or three are gathered together, there am I". The Quakers, therefore, worship in silence, and carry out their work quietly.

The organisation has spread to many countries in the world, with approximately a quarter of a million Quakers world-wide. There are about 1000 members in Australia, and about 1000 non-members who participate in Quaker activities and worship. In Australia, the organisation began when Rachel Hopkins, and sons Francis and William, and daughter Anna, arrived in Brisbane on the ship, 'Sultana', in 1862, and meetings were held in their home at Milton. As Quaker numbers grew, a Meeting House was built in 1866. The first General Meeting of Australian Quakers was held at St Peter's Lutheran College at Indooroopilly in 1950, and then at Cromwell College, St Lucia in 1960.