Stock Market Timeline - ASX

By Chris Tan

  • First share list is created

    First share list was published by William Barton, father of Australia’s first Prime Minister Edmund Barton.

  • First stock exchange is established

    The first stock exchange is established in Melbourne, Australia, 1861.

  • Second stock exchange is established

    The second stock exchange is established in Sydney, Australia.
  • Period: to

    Four regional stock exchanges are established

    The Hobart, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth stock exchanges are formed.

  • Australian Associated Stock Exchange is established (AASE)

    The Australian Associated Stock Exchange (AASE) is formed with representatives from all of the regional exchange (Perth, Brisbane etc).

  • First share list

    The first share price index is published.

  • Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE)

    The Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) commences trading while being known as the Sydney Greasy Wool Futures Exchange (SGWFE).

  • Securities are listed

    National listing for all securities is introduced.

  • Australian Options Market

    The Australian Options Market is established and started operating.

  • All regional indices are replaced

    The All Ordinaries index is created replacing the regional indices with a base date of 31 December 1979.

  • The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) is formed

    The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is formed after the six independent stock exchanges that had operated in the states had merged together to form the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

  • SEATS is launched

    Stock Exchange Automated Trading System (SEATS) in launched, moving transactions to digital.

  • Global Crash

    The All Ordinaries index records its largest one-day loss, falling by 516 points (25%) on 20 October 1987.

  • Standard and Poor's (S&P) takes over the ASX

    The financial company Standard and Poor's (S&P) take over the ASX. The S&P/ASX 200 replaces the All Ordinaries index as the primary index for the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

  • Dot Com Bubble Bursts

    ASX falls 22% over 12 months.

  • Merging and renaming

    The Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) merged with the Sydney Futures Exchange (SFE) to form the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).

  • Global Financial Crisis (GFC)

    ASX falls 54% over 16 months.