The first ether anaesthetics in Australia were administered in June 1847. In Sydney, John Belisario and Charles Nathan extracted a tooth successfully, while in Launceston, Tasmania, William Russ Pugh used ether to perform surgery. He replicated an inhaler from a sketch in the Illustrated London News.  The Harry Daly Museum at the ASA Headquarters tells about the beginnings of anaesthesia and exhibits various early ether inhalers. Significant events in the evolution of the practice of anaesthesia are listed in our Anaesthesia History Timeline.

One of Australia's leading medical associations

The Australian Society of Anaesthetists was founded in 1934 with seven members. Since then the Society has continued to grow in membership. The Society has met annually since 1935 (with the exception of the years 1940 through 1944 when World War II interrupted proceedings) at both Annual General and Scientific Meetings, the latter now termed the National Scientific Congress.

Presently The ASA has 2900 members, comprising approx 85% of Australia’s specialist anaesthetists. The Society is a voluntary association of members operating throughout Australia. It was established as a means of exchange of ideas, for the distribution of memoranda on topics of anaesthetic interests, and to conduct inquiries relating to problems in the practice of anaesthesia in Australia. Generally speaking, it seeks to further the best interests of anaesthesia and anaesthetists.

The Society is now one of the largest and leading medical associations in Australia, delivering a range of services of the highest quality to members. Membership consists of specialist anaesthetist physicians as well as registrar trainees and non-specialist medical practitioner anaesthetists. The Retired Anaesthetists Group (RAG) meets regularly for social activities. For more information please email to asa@asa.org.au.

RAG group photograph at ASA NSC Sydney, September 2011 Back row from left to right: Drs Harry Lorang, Michael Hodgson, Robert McGuiness, Profs Ross Holland, John Gibbs, Drs Rod Westhorpe, Edward Yarad, John Paull, Don Maxwell. Front row from left to right: Drs Graham Grant, Gerald Lewis, Gavin Robinson, Prof David Gibb, Drs Kester Brown, Jeanette Thirlwell, Ray Cook, Patricia Mackay.