[1][2] The Australian Surfriders Association was founded in 1963, and was renamed Surfing Australia in 1993.

[4] In 2014 it inaugurated the Australian Boardriders Battle, and renewed its partnership with the Edith Cowan University to further develop the Hurley Surfing Australia High Performance Centre (HPC), the world's first facility dedicated to the development of elite surfers and coaches.

[5] In 2014, Surfing Australia turned to the alcohol industry for sponsorship after the federal government abolished its anti-alcohol health promotion agency that provided part of the surfing association's funding.

[7] In 2017–2018, the HPC was renovated and upgraded to prepare the Australian surfer for the Olympic competition.

[9] The national body has six state member associations: