On 22 June 1883, the Geographical Society of Australasia started at a meeting in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The New South Wales branch's new constitution in 1886 widened its scope to encourage interest in scientific, commercial, educational and historical aspects of geography.
Members were by invitation only, drawn from academics at universities, scientific societies, and government organisations, including the RGSAQ, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Naturalists Club, and the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.
In 1905 they acquired the York Gate Library, following the death of Stephen William Silver a prosperous London merchant who had branched out into publishing information for colonial settlers alongside clothes, furniture and other equipment for use in the British colonies.
[7] The South Australian branch played a part in organising a number of expeditions.