The Early Years

Australia's first anaesthetic for a surgical procedure was administered at St. John's Hospital in Launceston, Tasmania in June 1847. This was less than 12 months after what is generally recognised as the world's first anaesthetic for surgery - which took place on 16 October 1846, in Boston, in the United States.

Today, millions of people are alive purely because of anaesthesia. The now highly complex and sophisticated skills of anaesthetists allow a wide range of surgery and procedures to be carried out, even on very sick people.

The College

Initially, anaesthetists were members of organisations representing physicians and surgeons. As anaesthesia became a more specialised field, the need developed for more specific education and qualifications. In 1952, a Faculty of Anaesthetists was created within the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. There were 69 foundation Fellows.

After 40 years' association with the College of Surgeons, The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) was formed in February 1992. By then, anaesthetists formed Australia's third largest specialist medical group, with more than 2,100 Fellows and 500 trainees.

ANZCA's objective is to cultivate and maintain the highest principles and standards in the training, practice and ethics of anaesthesia, intensive care, pain medicine and related sciences and branches of medicine. The College is directly responsible for the examination and qualification of anaesthetists, and the standards of anaesthesia practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Additionally, the College has a significant role in the advancement of anaesthesia in South East Asia and the Pacific. In particular, it has assisted with anaesthesia training in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and a number of other neighbour nations.

Fellowship

The College has approximately 4,420 Fellows worldwide. This comprises 3,380 males and 1,040 females. The proportion of women in anaesthesia is progressively increasing, with almost equal numbers of trainees.

In Australia, there is more than one anaesthetist for every 10,000 people. In New Zealand, the proportion is similar. College policy aims for a reasonable ratio of anaesthetists in country and remote areas, and works closely with hospitals and other authorities to encourage this.

The average number of anaesthetists in training in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia is almost 1,400 per year, and the College has some 150 hospitals accredited for training throughout these countries.

Headquarters

The College headquarters building, a gracious two-storey mansion with a distinctive tower and L-shaped verandahs and balconies, is located at the southern end of Melbourne's famous St. Kilda Road. Its name, "Ulimaroa", is an early 18th century name (possibly of Polynesian origin) for the Australian continent. The College retained the name when it bought "Ulimaroa" in 1993.

In 2001, the completion of ANZCA House, adjacent to Ulimaroa, marks a significant milestone in the growth and status of anaesthesia, intensive care and pain medicine in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific Region.

The new building was designed to differentiate between the old and new, as a partner building rather than an extension. It allows the mansion to be the 'main character' on stage and instead act as an architectural backdrop. The expanded facilities offer greater opportunities for the College to be an international centre for the interchange of ideas and information essential to the continuing improvement of the speciality's performance and status.

Beyond the conference, meeting and examination facilities, the building has enabled a significant expansion of the College library. In addition, the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History, an excellent collection of anaesthesia-related artifacts and equipment, is a focus on the fifth floor. There is a 200 seat auditorium on two levels, with state of the art audio-visual presentation facilities. A bi-fold wall allows the creation of a space for health-care industry displays associated with meetings or a relaxation area during long meetings.                                                          

"Ulimaroa" is listed as being of historical significance by the State Historic Buildings Council.

ANZCA House