One night in 1895, an historic meeting took place in the Sydney Institute of Sanitary and Engineering Technology. This meeting laid down the initial foundation for the establishment of an Institute of Plumbing and Sanitary Engineers. This body was later to evolve into Australia's first Plumbing trade association, the Master Plumbers Association of NSW, a 'union of employers' to be later renamed the Master Plumbers & Mechanical Contractors Association of NSW.

Since that first meeting, the Master Plumbers Association of NSW has become one of the strongest specialist contracting organisations in the building and construction industry.

Growing With An Industry
The plumbing industry worldwide has developed, with the introduction of new technology, into a complex and varied range of business activities reflected in the extensive and rigorous education and training undergone by apprentices entering the profession today (the TAFE trade course now resembles an engineering diploma covering multiple disciplines).

As the range of tasks of the plumbing contractor has grown rapidly over time, so has the role undertaken by the Association in representing and serving not only 'mainstream' plumbing firms but also the many industry specialists.

Historically as the areas represented by the Association have grown in number, its name was changed, to include and pay tribute to the specialists, by the addition of the words 'and Mechanical Contractors' to the original 'Master Plumbers Association of NSW'. In 2001, it was agreed to adopt a simpler name for business purposes, and the name was shortened to the Master Plumbers Association of NSW.

As a truly representative body, the Master Plumbers Association is guided in terms of its direction, policy and member services by the requirements and wishes of its members. The members are represented via the Executive Committee, the elected governing body, through various industry sector group committees, operations sub-committees, and regional Branches. Thus, they have a direct line of input under the constitution in directing Association member services and representative policy in terms of both industry sector - specific and region - specific issues and problems.

Branches are located in key regional centres in NSW. Branch office-holders are elected by members grouped in these centres.