History

130 Years of the Chamber

In 1886, a group of business people met in the Great Northern Hotel of Newcastle to establish a Chamber of Commerce. Among the members were Frederic Ash, whose buildings in the CBD are still used today, John Brown, the coal baron, and William Arnott, whose biscuit business has become a national icon.

At the Annual General Meeting, President Mr R B Wallace spoke about the involvement of the group in the advancements in rail transport, in health, local tramways and water supply.

He said of the Chamber: “There can be no doubt that it will do good; and the amount of that good depends entirely on ourselves.”

His comments stand the test of time, and the Chamber continues to lead business in the Hunter – through two World Wars and the Great Depression, through natural disasters, and great political, technological and industrial change.

For more than a century, the chamber has been helping to restructure this most diverse economy that encourages investment and employment generation.

Partnering with the Chamber of Manufactures in the late 1990s, the organisation has evolved to become the Hunter Business Chamber we know today, providing to its members a comprehensive range of services including advocacy, networking, advice, training and the additional services and products of NSW Business Chamber.

Hunter Business Chamber is an advisor, a forum, a source of information and a point of access for its members, who drive one of the powerhouse economies in Australia and include some of the most innovative businesses in the nation.

In 1978 the Chamber established its annual awards system to identify and promote these outstanding business achievements. Award categories reflect the diversity of membership, and recognise individuals making a significant contribution to our business community.

From the beginning, Hunter Business Chamber has been about helping businesses – recognised as innovators – who are making a difference.

Past Presidents

Hunter Business Chamber Past Presidents

Newcastle Hunter Business Chamber Presidents

Newcastle Chamber of Commerce & Industry Presidents

Current Life Members

Kyle Loades
David LeMarchant
Peter Evans OAM
Peter Rundle
Paul Murphy OAM
Neville Sawyer AM
Ian Pedersen