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Dating back to 1840, Australian Unity has a long and proud history. In 1993, Australian Unity as an entity was formed by the merger of the Australian Natives' Association Friendly Society (ANA) and the Manchester Unity Independent order of Odd fellows in Victoria Friendly Society. In 2005 the entity was further expanded through the merger with Grand United Friendly Society Limited.
Lifeplan Australia Friendly Society joined Australian Unity Limited in August 2009, after its members voted 'yes' to merge the two organisations.
Established in Melbourne in 1871, the Australian Natives' Association (ANA) was founded as a friendly society whose membership was only open to Australian born natives. Branches in city and country Victoria were established with the ninth branch formed in Charters Towers, Queensland in 1879, and by 1904, 205 branches had been formed. The two main aims of ANA when it first was formed was to ensure that its members had financial support in times of need, and to promote the moral, social and intellectual improvement of its members. Shunning traditional friendly society practices of ritual and regalia, the group set its sights on influencing public opinion and government policy on issues relating to Australian nationalism.
ANA's presence in communities became increasingly important through their participation in local debates, concerts and through providing services such as sick pay and funeral benefits. The ANA actively promoted federation of the Australian colonies in the late nineteenth century. Members of the ANA include Australia's first two Prime Ministers, Sir Edmund Barton and Sir Alfred Deakin; and Australia's first Governor General , Sir Isaac Isaacs. Throughout the twentieth century, the ANA continued to provide health services to its members and also expanded to other areas. The ANA General Insurance Company was formed in 1948 and the ANA Permanent Building Society established in 1964. Australian Unity was formed in 1993 through the merger between The Australian Natives' Association (Victoria) and Manchester Unity.
As the name indicates, the origins of Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (MUIOOF) began in Manchester, England. In 1840 it was established in Australia by Augustus Greeves, a member of MUIOOF who migrated here. The first lodge, The Australia Felix Lodge was created in partnership with journalist Thomas Strode and on 7 December 1840, the lodge received its first Constitution. This date is recognised as the birth date of Manchester Unity in Victoria.
An extensive network of lodges had been formed throughout country and metropolitan Victoria by the late nineteenth century. As part of the MU's governance, the Annual Moveable Conference met each year in a different location to elect the organisation's Directors for the coming year. In 1925, women were able to lodge membership with MU. Built between 1929 and 1932, was the Manchester Unity Building at the corner of Collins and Swanston Streets in Melbourne. At the time it was the tallest building in Australia and the first to have escalators. Throughout the twentieth century , MU continued to provide to its members with sickness benefits and dispensary services but also expanded its activities into other areas. The Manchester Unity (Victoria) Permanent Building Society was established in 1964. Australian Unity was formed in 1993 through the merger between Manchester Unity and the Australian Natives Association.
Grand United was formed in England in the late 1700s, when groups of independent lodges sought security in becoming part of larger international brotherhood. The meeting place for early members typically took place in Inns, where they gathered for social and business purposes.
The Order was officially established in Australia in 1848, however it's activities may have started since 1844 with the first Sydney lodge, the Travellers' Home No 731,operating since 1845. By 1948, three additional lodges had been formed. Due to the time it took for correspondence to travel from England to Australia, discrepancies of the actual and recorded dates exist. Brother James Reid (1794-1869) was the first Grand Master of the Order. The Port Phillip District of Grand United separated from the NSW branch to form Grand United in Victoria in 1854, and in 1877 the Queensland lodges also separated and formed their own management committee. Grand United membership grew rapidly in NSW with 22,405 members by 1910 and new premises purchased in Pitt Street in 1916.
Like many other friendly societies at the time, Grand United provided medical benefits for the members and their families who enlisted in the First and Second World Wars. The Grand United Centenary Centre – Homes for Aged Members (now known as Constitution Hill) was opened in Parramatta, Sydney to commemorate the centenary of Grand United.
After operating as different branches of Grand United for many years, the Queensland and NSW branches merged to form Grand United Friendly Society (NSW). Grand United (VIC) merged with Manchester Unity IOOF(VIC) in 1986, and in March 2005, Grand United Friendly Society (NSW) merged with Australian Unity.
Lifeplan Funds Management is a friendly society made up of many other friendly societies including Manchester Unity IOOF, Mutual Community, Australian Natives' Association, Druids, Foresters, Techabites – District 81, Hibernians, Protestant Alliance, Free Gardeners, Investment Action, Stateguard, Norwich Union Friendly Society and Savings and Loans Friendly Society.
The common goal shared by all theses friendly societies is to ensure that financial assistance is provided to members and their families in times of sickness and hardship. Lifeplan has grown from these humble beginnings to be a leading Australian specialist fund manager and provider of investment products. Total assets and funds under management at 30 September 2009 reached in excess of $1.57 billion.
To create a stronger mutual organisation, Lifeplan merged with Australian Unity in August 2009. Lifeplan members, as part of the merger became members of a larger Australian company that share a similar history, culture and set of values.
