1956

Exile section of CNT-B (Bulgaria) established in Sydney. ‘Our Road’ organ

of CNT-B-in –exile section in Australia, commences publication.

1965

Exile section of CNT (Spain) established in Melbourne

1966

CNT-B comrades establish the Anarchist Cellar in Glenmore Rd., Paddington,

NSW. Cruz Negra Anarquista (Anarchist Black Cross) established in

Melbourne, commences publication of ‘Acacia’.

1968

CNT-B Secretariat moves from Paris to Sydney.

1973

‘Acracia’ commences biligual publication in Spanish and English.

1975

January – Federation of Australian Anarchists (FAA) established at

conference in Sydney.

‘Acracia’ reverts to publishing in Spanish only.

1976

February – Sydney IWW group forms.

June – FAA disbands at conference in Melbourne.

1977

Bookshop opened at 417 King St. Newtown, NSW under the name ‘Sydney

Anarcho-Syndicalists’.

1978

Melbourne IWW group forms.

1979

‘Sydney Anarcho-Syndicalists’ bookshop changes name to ‘Jura Bookshop’

Members of Sydney IWW and hold meetings to discuss the establishment of an

IWA section in Australia.

1981

Members of Sydney IWW publish ‘Communique No.1’ under the name

‘Anarcho-Syndicalist Committee’ declaring an intention to establish an

Australian section of the IWA.

1982

February – ‘Rebel Worker’ commences publication as the paper of the IWW

under the auspices of the Australia and New Zealand General Organising

Committee of the IWW.

Split in Jura Bookshop leads to the establishment of Black Rose Books in

Botany, NSW.

Melbourne IWW disbands.

1983

February – Sydney IWW disbands and reforms as Rebel Worker Group (RWG) and

makes an application to affiliate with the IWA. Rebel Worker continues to

publish as ‘An Anarcho-Syndicalist Paper’.

April – Former members of CNT and Melbourne IWW form Melbourne

Anarcho-Syndicalist Group (MASG).

RWG rejects overtures by MASG to enter into discussions in regard to

forming a federation.

1984

Application by RWG to affiliate as the Australian section of the IWA

rejected at 17th IWA Congress held in Madrid.

1985

RWG calls for a conference of anarcho-syndicalists to be held in Sydney

the following January.

1986

January – Anarcho-syndicalist conference agrees to found the

Anarcho-Syndicalist Federation on a provisional basis with an affiliate in

Sydney and an affiliate in Melbourne.

February – RWG changes its name to ASF Sydney. CNT-B-in-exile formally

disbands remaining members join ASF Sydney. First meeting of ASF Melbourne

held in North Fitzroy on the 15th. Rebel Worker continues to publish as

‘the Paper of the ASF’. ASF makes application to affiliate with the IWA as

the Australian section.

March – ASF Melbourne establishes industrial action support project to

support workers in struggle.

April – ASF Melbourne twins with Builders Labourers Federation picket line

at Banana Alley/Queen St.

May – ASF Melbourne commences publication of ‘Sparks’, an

anarcho-syndicalist public transport workers paper.

July – ASF Melbourne holds ‘50th Annivesary of Spanish Revolution

Celebrations’ in Fitzroy. Rebel Worker goes monthly.

October – BLF dispute ends in defeat. ASF Melbourne establishes Patient

Strike Support Group to support striking nurses.

November – ASF Melbourne sponsors Public Transport Workers Association as a provisional affiliate.

December – Nurses srtike ends in victory.

1987

January – ASF confirmed at 1st Congress of the ASF. Public Transport

Workers Association (PTWA) admitted to ASF. ‘Sparks’ continues as paper of

the PTWA-ASF.

June – Rail Guards dispute PTWA and ASF-M engage in support action.

1988

January – ASF-M publishes ‘White Australia has a Black History’ as part of

ASF Anti-Bicentenary Campaign.

April – ASF admitted to IWA as the Australian section of the IWA at the 18th IWA Congress held in Bordeaux, France.

June – 2nd ASF Congress held in Melbourne. ASF Melbourne South admitted.

September – Solidarity actions by IWA sections across the world in support of the struggles of aboriginal people in Australia. Spanish translation of

‘White Australia has a Black History’ published in serial form by CNT

paper ‘Cenit’. Japanese translation ‘White Australia has a Black History’

published by RRU, Japanese section of IWA.

(History section incomplete and under contruction)