Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society

Australian Mutual Fire was established in Sydney in 1871 as a fire insurer. Incorporated in 1872, the society’s early interests were closely associated with the city’s cooperative building movement.

Company History

Australian Mutual annual report, 1928

The company was registered on September 10 1908 and, by 1909, had extended its portfolio to include accident insurance. In 1920, the society further extended its business to include marine underwriting.

In the same year, it was acquired by the Commercial Union Assurance Company Ltd, though it continued to exist as a separate concern. In 1960, ownership was transferred to the Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia Ltd. The society was deregistered in 1995.

Key dates

Year	Event
1871	The company is established
1908	The company becomes a registered company
1920	The company is acquired by the Commercial Union Assurance Company
1960	Ownership is transferred to the Commercial Union Assurance Company of Australia
1995	The company is deregistered

Head office premises

Year	Address
1878 - 1935	Dalton House, 115 Pitt Street, Sydney
1935 - 1940	Ocean House 32 Martin Place, Sydney
1940 - 1960 at least	Insurance House 109 Pitt Street, Sydney

Staff and officials

General manager

Year	Name
- 1901	Walter Church
1901 - 1928	Howard Pope
1928 - 1945	William G Brown
1945 - 1957	W J Hitchcock
1957 - 1960	F S J Watson

Secretary

Year	Name
1921 - 1928	William G Brown
1952 - 1959	F A Lynch
1959 - 1960 at least	K N Finlay

Directors (1921)

• Sydney H Cary
• John F Rofe
• A Wigram Allen
• John Vicars
• James P Johnson

Home branches and agencies

• Melbourne (by 1921)
• Brisbane (by 1921)

Overseas branches and agencies

Pacific Islands (1920)

In the archives

The Aviva archive contains annual report and accounts relating to the Australian Mutual Fire Insurance Society between 1921 and 1959.