HISTORY

The Royal United Services Institute of Victoria’s origins go back to 1831 when the Duke of Wellington founded the Naval and Military Library and Museum in London for the study and advancement of professional knowledge in the Armed Services. This later became known as the Royal United Services Institution.

The United Services Institution (USI) of New South Wales was founded in the centenary year of 1888. In 1890 the USI of Victoria was formed, and over a short period, similar Institutes were established in all the other states. Major General Sir Alexander Bruce Tulloch, first Commandant of Victoria, was instrumental in the creation of RUSI Vic. Lieutenant (later Lieutenant General Sir) John Monash was also instrumental in its early development. The USI of the ACT was formed considerably later in 1971. While all these Institutes had similar aims and had patterned themselves on the RUSI in London, they were, and remain, separate and independent organisations.

The constituent bodies in each State and the ACT agreed to federate, and the United Services Institute of Australia formally came into being on 1 January 1974.A national Journal was first published in 1977.The prefix 'Royal' was granted to the National Body in 1979 with constituent bodies in each State similarly honoured in subsequent years.