Metrication in Australia

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Australia changed to the metric system from 1970 to 1988 . Imperial units of measurement that were inherited from the British were withdrawn from general legal use and replaced with the metric system, based on the International System of Units. Australia's largely successful transition to the metric system contrasts with the ongoing opposition to metrication in other English-speaking countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

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[edit] History

Australia signed the Metre Convention (or Convention du Mètre) in 1947, which made metric units legal for use in Australia, although they were not commonly used in practice until the 1970s. In 1960, SI units were adopted by international agreement at the General Conference on Weights and Measures and subsequently came to form the basis of Australia's measurement standards. The base units adopted were the metre, kilogram, second, ampere, kelvin,[1] candela and mole. All other units of measure are said to be derived units.

In 1970, Australia created the Metric Conversion Board with the passage of the Metric Conversion Act by the national parliament.

In 1971, the wool industry became one of the first industries to convert to the metric system in Australia.

In 1972, the system was introduced to primary schools followed by secondary schools in 1973. Horse racing was converted in August 1972 and air temperatures were converted in September 1972.

By late 1974, many industries had converted to the metric system, including packaged grains, dairy products, eggs, building, timber, paper, printing, meteorological services, postal services, communications, road transport, travel, textiles, gas, electricity, surveying, sport, water supply, mining, metallurgy, chemicals, petroleum, and automotive services. Most beverages, aside from spirits, had also converted to metric units by the end of 1974. The conversion of road signs took place in July 1974 and there was a publicity campaign to prepare the public. [1].

By 1977, all packaged goods were labelled in metric units, and the air transport, food, energy, machine tool, electronic and electrical engineering and appliance manufacturing industries had converted.

The Metric Conversion Board spent $A5 955 000 during its 11 years of operation, and the Commonwealth Government distributed $10 000 000 to the States to support their conversion process. "No accounting has been made of the cost to the private sector. The Prices Justification Tribunal reported that metrication was not used to justify price increases." [2]

The Metric Conversion Board was dissolved in 1981, although the conversion to the metric system was not completed until 1988. Between 1981 and 1988 the conversion was the responsibility of the National Standards Commission in Australia.

In 1987, real estate became the last major industry to convert.

In 1988, the few remaining imperial units were removed from general use.

[edit] Exceptions

Despite metrication being an official success, some imperial measures are still mentioned. For example, after a short period in which hardware stores were required by law to sell only metric fasteners, a relaxation of the law allowed for pre-metric fasteners to be sold, as well. Currently, both Whitworth and metric nuts and bolts are readily available, but Whitworth bolts are stocked in a greater range of sizes.

Imperial units may be used in spoken and sometimes written form. Most weight is in kilograms, but sometimes a newborn baby's weight may be quoted in pounds. Real estate and office space is advertised in square metres but land areas are sometimes referred to in acres. A person's height is sometimes given in feet and inches.[citation needed]

Standard measures in the Australian print industry are ems and dpi (dots per inch) but paper sizes are metric, e.g., A4 or A3 and so is the weight of the paper in grams per square metre.

The sizes of beer glasses are based on older imperial standards rounded to the nearest 5 ml.

Historical presentations will often use imperial units to reflect context of the era represented.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The kelvin was known as the degree Kelvin at the time.

[edit] Further reading

  • Metrication in Australia by Kevin Joseph Wilks (DITAC - Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce)
  • History of Measurement in Australia Department of Industry Tourism and Resources, National Measurement Institute.
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