From gas lighting to fibre optics...

2016 is a landmark year for NECA as we head into our second century. The first NECA Chapter – called the Electrical Traders & Contractors Association, opened its doors to Victorian members in 1916. And the first NECA President was appointed in 1917.

As a result, we will be celebrating our centenary over the next twelve months. The first major event in the celebration will be the Victoria Excellence awards on Friday 5th August, 2016 and the gins will conclude with a gala Dinner at the next Australia-wide Industry Conference - towards the end of the second quarter of 2017 at a date to be confirmed.

“Things have certainly changed since those ground-breaking days when Australian cities were making decisions around voltage, and even underground cabling a hundred years ago,” says NECA’s CEO, Suresh Manickam. 

“Interestingly by 1918 the first Commissioners were being appointed to regulate and investigate the supply of electricity in Victoria and New South Wales. And the wonderfully named Electrolysis Board was established in 1921 – only five years after NECA was created as the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, in response to reports around damages to gas, water mains, and underground telephony lines.  Headings like Leakages of Electricity were already starting to appear in the press, so it was certainly an interesting journey,” Mr Manickam added.

A timeline of NECA's history

The highlights of our history are captured in a book written by Brian Seymour, a NECA life member and respected industry commentator.

Brian is a NECA Life Member and well-respected industry commentator. He has done a fabulous job in collating this story – and we are very grateful to him.