Orders, Decorations, and Medals of Australia - History

History

The Commonwealth of Australia used the Imperial or British honours system until 1975. The Australian Honours System was created in 1975, however some states in Australia did not relinquish their connection to the Imperial system until some time later. Most notable in this respect was Queensland, which was the last Australian state to recommend its citizens to the Queen for admission to various Orders as Knight or Dames.

Prior to 1975, only a handful of peerages and baronetcies were created for Australians, some in recognition of public services rendered in Britain rather than Australia. Some hereditary peers and baronets whose titles derive from Britain rather than Australia reside in Australia or have connections with Australia. Details are provided at Australian peers.

In 1975, the Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam inaugurated the Order of Australia expressly to supersede all other honours for Australian purposes. Under the Fraser Liberal Government (1975–83), the degrees of Knight, Dame and Medal were added to the Order of Australia. The succeeding Hawke Labor Government (1983–91) cancelled the awarding of the Knight and Dame designation. Awards of knighthoods, damehoods and ranks in Imperial honours orders declined and were brought to an end by The Queen in 1994. Knights and dames and others holding Imperial honours retain legal recognition, for instance in the Australian Order of Precedence, whether or not they were nominated for the honours by the Australian government or the government of an Australian state.

The Australian Honours and Awards System was designed to be incapable of rewarding citizens for acts of gallantry which occurred before February 1975, if not previously nominated for an Imperial award. Even though an act of bravery prior to that time may come to light, the Australian Bravery Decorations Council has dictated these acts be not recognised.