The Australian Antigonish Movement was launched by Father John Joseph Gallagher and his sister Rose in the parish of St Joachim Lidcombe, Sydney. They believed that exploited and impoverished people would benefit from Antigonish principles through co-operative enterprises. In May 1952, Lidcombe Co-Operative Small Loans and Investments Society was launched by the Gallaghers.

Between 1954 and 1957 Antigonish credit unions were established at Smithfield, Waitara, Panania, Padstow, Berala, Asquith and Five Dock. There was an Antigonish Housewives United buyers that initially traded in green grocery items and later expanded to a large range of household goods. Antigonish co-operatives also opened in country towns including Yass, Crookwell, Singleton and Mudgee and in Tasmania and Queensland.

The Antigonish group were often at odds with credit union peak bodies and the establishment at large over philosophical and regulatory matters. By the 1990s there was little trace of the Antigonish movement to be found.

Our Australian Antigonish collection includes meeting minutes, newsletters, correspondence, reports, oral histories and some associated photographs.