The Convention met as a result of a Victorian Government initiative. In 1969 the Victorian Parliament raised the desirability of considering revision of the Constitution following which the Premier of Victoria invited the Commonwealth, the States and the Northern Territory to appoint representatives to organise the Convention. A Steering Committee of Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention was constituted. It met five times between 1969 and 1973.
 
The Convention was established by agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments in 1972.  The first Plenary Session was held in Sydney in September 1973.

The Convention was opened by the Governor-General on 3 September, 1973. The Commonwealth had sixteen delegates at the Convention, each State had twelve as did the Northern Territory. Based on a recommendation of the Steering Committee local government was also directly represented - three representatives from each state, two from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory each.
 
The Honourable Eric A. Willis was elected to the Chair of the Convention, Mr J.C. Finemore served as the Chief Executive Officer, Mr I.P.K. Vider was appointed Clerk to the Convention and Mr A.R.B. McDonnell, Assistant Clerk. The Parliamentary reporting Staff of New South Wales took the official record of Debates which was subsequently published.
 
The Convention met to discuss specific portions of the Constitution to determine and recommend revision. The areas discussed were the financial provision of the Constitution, the Commonwealth's power relating to trade and commerce, family law, defamation and shipping and navigation.
 
At the conclusion of the Convention how many resolutions were passed, certain matters were referred to Standing Committees for examination and the Executive Committee was charged with organising the next Convention.
 
 
References
 
Commonwealth Record 10-16 May 1982, p 57 
Parliamentary Debates (Weekly Hansards) 9 March 1972 through to 
 31 May 1973, pp 764, 765, 882, 883, 982, 983, 1389, 2630, 2631,
 2940, 2941.
Commonwealth Government Directory 1982, p 102
Historical agency address
The Legislative Assembly Chamber, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Legislation administered
Resolution of the Senate and of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, 31 May 1973
Resolution of the Legislative Council & Legislative Assembly of New South Wales 22 and 23 March and 4 April 1972
Resolution of the Legislative Council for the Northern Territory, 27 June 1973
Resolution of the Parliament of Queensland, 20 October 1972
Joint Resolution of the Legislative council and the House of Assembly of Couth Australia, 26 &27 September 1972, 14 and 21 August, 1972
Joint Resolution of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly of Tasmania, 3 October 1972
Joint Resolution of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Victoria, 3 May 1972
Joint Resolution of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, 15 and 16 August 1972