The increasing involvement of Australian governments and people in social welfare and the increasing number of histories appearing in this field, makes it appropriate to recognize the alternate institutions—the mutual-aid bodies. By looking at these private institutions, which began to develop in the nineteenth century, we gain some perspective on the initiatives of government in the twentieth century in social policy in Australia. This paper does not extend to banks, building societies or to other co-operatives, but is restricted to those two institutions, friendly societies and the life insurance companies, which sought to provide for the exigencies of sickness, old-age and death.