Super in Australia has roots in the 1800s, but the modern compulsory super system most people mean was introduced in 1992 with the Superannuation Guarantee.

Short direct answer

  • Early employer super-style pensions began in the 19th century, for example a bank staff super fund in 1842.
  • Superannuation for most workers only became widespread in the 1980s, helped by union negotiations and award-based contributions.
  • The key turning point was 1992 , when the federal government introduced the Superannuation Guarantee, making employer super contributions compulsory for eligible employees.

Mini timeline

  • 1840s: First employer “super” funds for certain staff (e.g. Bank of Australasia in 1842).
  • Early–mid 1900s: Super mainly for public servants and large corporate white‑collar workers; not common for everyone.
  • 1980s: Industrial awards begin to include super contributions, lifting coverage of private sector workers.
  • 1992: Superannuation Guarantee law starts, initially at 3–4% of wages, creating today’s compulsory super framework.

So if you are asking “when was super introduced in Australia?” in the everyday sense of compulsory super for workers, the practical answer is 1992 , even though limited super arrangements existed long before then.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.