Damon Mcknight
Australia's transition from Fahrenheit to Celsius occurred on September 1, 1972, when the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) adopted the metric system for weather reporting and forecasts. This shift was part of Australia's broader move towards metrication, which included changes in road signs and traffic regulations, and measurements in various sectors such as horse racing, aviation, and commerce. The change to Celsius was considered seamless, and Australia completed its nationwide metrication by 1988, making the metric system the only legal system of measurements in the country. Since then, Australia has continued to use Celsius as its standard unit of temperature measurement, with the annual average mean temperature in 2022 reaching 21.96°C.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of change from Fahrenheit to Celsius | 1 September 1972 |
| Agency responsible for the change | Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) |
| Cost of publicity campaign for the change | $200,000 |
| Year metrication was completed nationwide | 1988 |
| Total amount spent by the Metric Conversion Board | A$5.955 million |
| Amount distributed by the federal government to states to support conversion | $10 million |
| Observed annual average mean temperature in Australia in 2022 | 21.96°C |
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What You'll Learn
The Celsius switch was sudden
The change was not without its challenges. The BOM had to convert 15 million historical temperature records from Fahrenheit to Celsius. They also had to change the language in everyday life. For example, 100 degrees Fahrenheit was considered a "magical" and very hot temperature, but this converts to an "awkward" 37.78 degrees Celsius. To help people adjust, the BOM released educational pamphlets and catchy jingles to describe the feeling of each temperature. These included the "'frosty fives', 'tingling tens', 'temperate twenties', 'thirsty thirties', and 'flaming forties'".
The Celsius switch was part of a broader shift to the metric system in Australia. This included changes to wind speed, rainfall, river depths, snow depths, and wave heights. The move to metric also extended beyond weather-related measurements, with road signs and traffic regulations changing in July 1974. The transition was well-planned, with covered metric signs installed alongside imperial signs before the change. This meant that almost every road sign in Australia was converted within a month, avoiding confusion.
Despite the potential for disruption, the metrication process was considered trouble-free and seamless. A 1982 federal government report described it as a "most significant event in Australia's integration with the modernising world". By 1988, with the full implementation in Western Australia, metrication was completed nationwide, and the metric system became the only legal system of measurements in Australia. The Celsius switch was, therefore, a sudden but successful part of Australia's broader adoption of the metric system.
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Conversion was trouble-free
Australia's conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius and the metric system was completed in 1988, with Western Australia being the final state to implement the change. The transition was considered trouble-free and seamless, with a 1982 federal government report describing the process of metrication as a "most significant event in Australia's integration with the modernising world".
The change was overseen by the Metric Conversion Board, which spent A$5.955 million during its 11 years of operation. The Board was dissolved in 1981, but the conversion continued until 1988. The Australian government also distributed $10 million to the states to support their conversion process.
The first step in the transition was the change in weather reporting and forecasts. On 1 September 1972, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology stopped using Fahrenheit and switched to Celsius for temperature measurements. To help the public adjust, the Bureau of Meteorology released educational pamphlets and jingles, such as "frosty fives", "tingling tens", "temperate twenties", "thirsty thirties", and "flaming forties", to describe the feeling of each temperature.
Another significant aspect of the conversion was the change in road signs and traffic regulations, which took place on 1 July 1974. This was achieved through careful planning, with covered metric signs installed alongside imperial signs before the change. During the conversion month, the imperial signs were removed, and the metric signs were uncovered. This approach ensured that there was little chance of confusion regarding speed limit signs during the transition period.
The conversion to the metric system in Australia was a gradual and well-planned process. The early change in horse racing, where the furlong is close to 200 meters, facilitated the metrication of the Melbourne Cup in November 1972. Additionally, wind speed was reported in kilometres per hour from April 1973, and rainfall, river depths, snow depths, and waves were reported in metric units from January 1974. These staged changes allowed for a smooth transition to the metric system, with minimal disruption to daily life.
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Public education was key
Australia's transition from Fahrenheit to the Celsius scale, as part of its conversion to the metric system, was remarkably smooth. This was due in no small part to the public education campaigns that accompanied the change. Public education was key to ensuring a seamless transition to the Celsius system.
The Australian public's familiarity with the metric system was already growing due to its use in schools, where it was taught to students who then shared their knowledge with their parents. Building on this, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's public relations officer, Godfrey Wiseman, created catchy jingles to help people understand the significance of different temperature ranges in degrees Celsius. These jingles, including "frosty fives", "tingling tens", "temperate twenties", "thirsty thirties", and "flaming forties", were very successful in raising awareness.
The Bureau of Meteorology also released educational pamphlets, such as "Motoring Goes Metric", to help people adjust to the new system. This was particularly important for road travel, where there were concerns that ignorance of metric speeds could lead to accidents. A Panel for Publicity on Road Travel, comprising motoring organisations, regulatory authorities, and the media, planned a publicity campaign that cost $200,000 and was paid for by the Australian Government Department of Transport.
The transition to Celsius was also facilitated by a month-long period during which weather reports and forecasts were provided in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, allowing people to familiarise themselves with the new system before the change became mandatory. This dual-unit system was avoided in most other contexts, however, to prevent confusion and ensure a clear break from the old imperial units.
While the Metric Conversion Board did not implement education programs due to polling suggesting most people were learning the metric system independently, the public education initiatives that were undertaken played a crucial role in ensuring the successful adoption of the Celsius scale in Australia.
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Metrication was completed in 1988
Australia's transition to the metric system was a gradual process that began in the 1970s and was completed in 1988. The first major step towards metrication occurred on September 1, 1972, when the Australian Bureau of Meteorology switched from reporting temperatures in Fahrenheit to using only Celsius measurements. This change was accompanied by a public education campaign that included jingles to help people understand the significance of different temperature ranges in degrees Celsius.
The transition to metric measurements in weather reporting was followed by similar changes in other sectors. From April 1973 onwards, wind speed was reported exclusively in kilometres per hour, and starting in January 1974, rainfall, river depths, snow depths, and waves were measured in metric units. The most visible sign of Australia's metric conversion, however, came on July 1, 1974, when road signs were switched to display speeds and distances in kilometres and metres.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Australian government invested in public education campaigns and carefully planned the rollout of metric road signs. These efforts paid off, as the change to metric units was largely trouble-free and did not lead to the confusion or accidents that some had feared. By the early 1980s, opposition to metrication had largely faded, and most Australians were learning and using metric units independently.
Metrication was finally completed in 1988 when Western Australia fully implemented the metric system, making it the only legal system of measurements in the country. This milestone marked the end of a decades-long process that modernised Australia's measurement system and aligned it with the majority of the world.
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Conversion was a 'mammoth task'
Australia's conversion from the imperial system to the metric system was indeed a mammoth task. The process of metrication began in 1972 with the change from Fahrenheit to Celsius in weather reporting and forecasts. This was overseen by the Metric Conversion Board, which spent A$5.955 million during its 11 years of operation. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology also introduced a series of jingles, such as "frosty fives", "temperate twenties", and "flaming forties", to help the public understand the new temperature descriptions.
The transition to the metric system was a gradual process, with wind speed changing to kilometres per hour in 1973, and rainfall, river depths, snow depths, and waves changing to metres in 1974. One of the most visible signs of metric conversion was the change in road signs, which took place on 1 July 1974. Almost every road sign in Australia was converted within a month, with careful planning and the installation of covered metric signs beforehand.
Public education was believed to be crucial for ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining public safety. A Panel for Publicity on Road Travel, comprising motoring organisations, regulatory authorities, and the media, planned a $200,000 publicity campaign, including 2.5 million copies of a pamphlet, "Motoring Goes Metric". Despite the potential for disruption, the change was considered trouble-free, with most people learning the new units independently.
The final stage of metrication was completed in 1988 when Western Australia fully implemented the metric system, making it the only system of legal measurements in the country. This marked the end of a 16-year journey towards modernising Australia's measurement system, which was considered a significant event in the country's integration with the world.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia switched from Fahrenheit to Celsius on 1 September 1972.
The switch was part of Australia's conversion to the metric system, overseen by the Metric Conversion Board. The process was described as a "mammoth task" but the transition was considered seamless. To help people adjust, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) released a series of pamphlets and jingles to describe the feeling of each temperature.
Metrication was completed nationwide in 1988, with Western Australia being the last state to fully implement the change. The metric system became the only system of legal measurements in Australia.
