History about us

In 1862, the Association of Industrialists formed the first national industrial representative body in Austria. The majority of the 600 odd regional, local and sector-oriented industry organisations combined in 1892 as the Central Association of Austrian Industrialists - an association of associations.

Even these precursors of today's Federation of Austrian Industry operated on a voluntary membership basis, in contrast to the compulsory membership of the chambers and other professional associations. The first edition of "die industrie" - the official organ of the Central Association - was published on 19 March 1896.
The House of Industry was designed by Karl König and inaugurated by Emperor Franz Joseph - in front of 500 guests - in 1911. With the exception of the first floor, (the Association of Industrial Insurers and the Anglo-Elementar Insurance resided there until 1935), industrial employers' associations occupied the premises. The Industrial Club represented the interests of large and heavy industry whilst the Central Association of Austrian Industrialists represented individual trade associations. The interests of small and medium sized businesses were represented by the individual members of the Federation of Austrian Industrialists.

Following the collapse of the Danube Monarchy, the three associations agreed to merge and become the Imperial Association of Austrian Industry, which shortly thereafter became the Principal Association of Austrian Industry. The political upheaval of the First Austrian Republic also left its mark on this organisation. In 1934, following the introduction of the corporative state system, the Federation of Austrian Industrialists was created. After annexation in 1938, the new occupiers of the House of Industry dissolved their industry association. The Federation of Industrialists was broken up and divided between the individual departments of the chambers of commerce. Nonetheless, close spatial proximity of various trade associations and sub-groups often permitted them to represent common "Ostmark" interests to central bodies in Berlin.

With one exception, the House of Industry itself suffered little direct war-damage: during an air-raid on the urban railway (now the U4-line) in February 1944, the neighbouring building at Heumarkt 10 was hit by a bomb which also damaged a section of the roof of the House of Industry and a number of offices.

The address of the House of Industry - Schwarzenbergplatz 4 - gained special historical significance at the end of the war when it became the seat of the Allied Control Council in Vienna who paid the Federation of Austrian Industrialists (founded in 1946) a nominal rent for the use of the building. The allied move into the House of Industry did little for its interior. In the winter of 1945/6, the Russian occupying force used a substantial part of the archive to heat the building. Sadly, they also failed to treat the remains of the interior in an appropriate way.
In contrast, the House of Industry's finest hour was in 1955. On "Stalinplatz", the new address of the temporarily renamed square, the final and decisive stages of the negotiations for the State Treaty took place. In the years leading up to the event, the Allied Council had met in the smaller of the two ceremonial halls. Seeing as the room was too small for the great Ambassadorial Council, the proceedings were moved to the great hall. Throughout the month of May 1855, the Austrian Treaty was negotiated here in all its detail. The foreign ministers of the four signatory powers also met in the House of Industry on 13 and 14 May, before signing the treaty on 15 May.  

Thousands of Austrians flocked to see the last allied military parade, which was celebrated in front of the House of Industry. Then, on 27 May 1955, the allied colours were removed from the building's roof. Shortly thereafter, the Federation of Austrian Industrialists moved back into its original quarters.

Ever since, the House of Industry has been a place for industrial bodies to lobby for and represent their interests. Organisations and institutes on close terms with the Federation have their own offices within the building. On account of the international activities and the changed domestic industrial landscape, the general meeting of the organisation decided on 23 May 1996 to change the association's name to the Federation of Austrian Industry.

The description of the House's function given by Minister-President von Bienerth on the occasion of the House's inauguration in 1911 is as true today as it was then:
"Erected solely by the strength of Austria's industry, this new home will, in future, become the most important place for industrial representatives in Austria. It shall be a natural focal point for every endeavour to encourage co-operation which will, in turn, serve the welfare and prosperity of domestic production. This House will thus fulfil one of the most important tasks in the area of economic and national life."