Australian Metrication and the Engineer

Australia has been in the process of converting to the metric system for the past five years. It is now estimated that this process will be essentially complete by the end of the year 1977. By taking a number of small, but well-planned steps towards metrication, the Australians have been able to accomplish their conversion in a short time with a minimum of inconvenience. To accomplish this conversion in the construction industry, changes had to be made in education, building codes and design manuals. By announcing changeover dates well in advance and by having strong leadership from all levels of government, the Australians have been able to make their conversion in a much shorter period of time than have other nations who started on metrication at an earlier date.