The Wine Overseas Marketing Board was constituted on 21 June 1929 by the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1929 which was assented to on 22 March 1929. Section 5 of the Act which deals with the establishment of the Board became operative on proclamation on 21 June 1929 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No.60 of 1929, p.1445).
The Board was a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal; capable of acquiring, holding and disposing real and personal property. Under the provisions of the 1929 Act it was able to accept control of wine or brandy intended for export and had the following powers with respect to that wine:
the handling, marketing and storage of the wine;
the shipment of the wine on such items and in
such quantities as it thinks fit;
the sale and disposal of wine as such terms as
it thinks fit;
the insurance against loss of any such wine
either in the Commonwealth or in transit from
the Commonwealth;
all such matters as are necessary for the due
discharge of its functions in handling,
distributing and disposing of the wine.
The Board was able to prohibit the export of wine from Australia, "for the purpose of enabling the Board to effectively control the export and sale and distribution after export of Australian Wine." Under the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1961, No.25 of 1961, the Boards' powers were extended to include the power to acquire any Australian wine and brandy for their promotion outside Australia and it was able to offer advances to owners of exported wines. It was empowered to do "such things as it thinks fit for the purpose of improving the quality or promoting the sale, whether in Australia or elsewhere, of wine and brandy; and to make arrangements, with other persons, authorities or associations in Australia or elsewhere, likely to be conducive to the
achievement of such a purpose".
The operation of the Board was funded by the Wine Export Fund from a levy imposed on deliveries of grapes to wineries and distilleries under the provisions of the Wine Grapes Charges Act 1929, No.7 of 1929. The Board initially consisted of eight members holding office for a term of two years. One member with commercial experience was appointed by the Governor-General as the representative of the Commonwealth Government. The other members were elected in the following manner:
two representatives elected by co-operative wineries and
distilleries;
one representative elected by proprietary and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in New South Wales and
Queensland;
one representative elected by proprietory and privately
owned distilleries and wineries in Victoria;
two representatives elected by proprietory and privately
owned distilleries and wineries in South Australia;
one representative elected by proprietory and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in Western Australia.
The inaugural members of the Board were H Kay, L N Salter, D T Du Rieu, E Miller, C F Harkin, H P L Buring, H K Johns and the government representative, J W Sandford.
The title of the Board was changed to the Australian Wine Board by the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1936, No.94 of 1936. This Act altered the method of appointment of Board members, as they were now to be appointed by the Governor-General after nomination by the relevant section of the wine industry. The number of members and their areas of representation remained as stipulated by the 1929 Act until this was amended by the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1945, No.23 of 1945, which increased the Board to eleven members holding office for a term of three years, being eligible for re-appointment. The Board now comprised:
one member representing the Commonwealth Government;
two members to represent co-operative wineries and
distilleries;
one member to represent proprietary and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in New South Wales
and Queensland;
one member to represent proprietary and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in Victoria;
two members to represent proprietary and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in South Australia;
one member to represent proprietary and privately
owned wineries and distilleries in Western Australia;
three members to represent grapegrowers supplying
grapes to wineries and distilleries, nominated by the
Federal Grapegrowers' Council.
Under the provisions of the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1963, No.62 of 1963, the members representing private and proprietary wineries and distilleries were appointed from nominations by State associations affiliated with the Federal Wine and Brandy producers' Council of Australia.
Meetings of the Board was convened by the Chairman or by four other members. Six members formed a quorum, all questions being decided by a majority of votes. The Chairman had a deliberative and a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. Members of the Board were able to nominate deputies for appointment in their stead by the
Governor-General.
The Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1930, No.48 of 1938, established an Executive Committee of the Board. This consisted of the Chairman of the Board (as Chairman of the Committee), one member representing co-operative wineries and distilleries, two members representing proprietary and privately owned wineries and distilleries and one member representing the grapegrowers. The Executive Committee was elected annually by the Board and had "such powers and functions of the Board as the Board thinks fit". Three members of the Committee formed a quorum, questions being decided by a majority of votes with the Chairman having a casting and a deliberative vote. The accounts of the Board were open to inspection and audit by the Auditor General and the Board made an annual report to the Minister.
In September 1980 the Minister for Primary Industry II (CA1960), the Hon. Peter Nixon (CP83) announced that the Board would be replaced by a statutory corporation as the wine industry had grown and the Board was now out of date. The new corporation would encompass the marketing of wine, brandy and rectified grape spirit, having the power to regulate exports and extensive promotion and publicity functions overseas and within Australia. The Australian Wine Board was replaced by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (CA ) which was
established by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act 1980, No.161 of 1980, and which came into operation on 1 July 1981.  

Historical agency address
  1936-by1944: Eagle Chambers, 7 Pirie Street, Adelaide 
  1944-by1961: Shell House, North Terrace, Adelaide 
  1961-by1974: Bank Building, 25 Bank Street, Adelaide 
  1974-  1981: 4th floor, 55 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Act No.6 of 1929, Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1929. Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Act No.161 of 1980, Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Act 1980.

Agency controlled unregistered

Australian Wine Board, London Office, by 1936-by 1974