Our History

75 years and counting

For 75 years, we’ve served with uncommon kindness, putting the needs of our neighbours, our communities and our world first. Since the first Lions club was formed in Lismore, NSW in September 1947, we have grown to be Australia’s largest service club organisation.

We look back at our storied past with pride, but we know it’s only the beginning. Every day, we’re building on our legacy with the goal of making an even greater impact in the future.

Scroll through our timeline to discover some of our major achievements over the past 75 years.

1947
1 July – Formation of the first Australian Lions Club of Lismore
29 September – Charter night of Lismore Lions Club

1947
1952
First Lions Club formed in Victoria – Lions Club of Melbourne Host
First Lions Club formed in Queensland – Lions Club of Coolangatta-Tweed Heads

1952
1957
First Lions Club formed in Tasmanian – Lions Club of the City of Launceston
Lions first National project raises £50,000 to establish the Lions National Eye Research Unit in Victoria

1958
1962
Lions Clubs formed in South Australia, Western Australia, Papua New Guinea
Lions Club of Alice Springs (NT) and Lions Clubs of Norfolk Island formed

1964
1970
Lions in Western Australia found the Lions Save Sight Foundation (WA) Inc. leading to the establishment of the renowned Lions Eye Institute in 1983
Lions mobilise in Queensland to support the emergency following Cyclone Wanda

1974
1975
Lions mobilise in Darwin to provide direct support to the emergency relief and recovery following Cyclone Tracey including over $500,000 in funds
The Lions Medical Research Foundation supports Professor Ian Frazer in his work to develop the Cervical Cancer vaccine

1986
1988
The Lions International Deafness Research Fellowship established to support the ongoing development of the Cochlear Implant
The first Lions International Convention in the Southern Hemisphere – Brisbane, Australia attended by over 30,000 Lions

1991
2013
Lion Barry Palmer AO elected at the first Australian to hold the role of International President of Lions Clubs International, presiding over 1.4million Lions in over 200 countries
Lions partner with the Garvan Institute in Australia, contributing over $4m towards the ‘Genome Power’ project to develop advanced treatments for children with high-risk and aggressive cancers

2016
2022
The 75^th Anniversary of Lions Clubs International