Known originally as the Federated Furnishing Trade Societies of Australasia from 1909, when it was formed, by 1914 the name had been changed slightly to the Federated Furnishing Trade Society of Australasia. The Society's Federal Office was based in Melbourne with branches in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and the ACT. The union covered cabinet makers, French polishers, upholsterers, mattress makers, piano makers, carpet layers, furnishing drapery, wicker workers, and in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania wood machinists and workers in the flat glass trade as well as automotive glass, baby carriages, coffins, musical instrument makers and organ makers. Operating until 1993, the Society eventually amalgamated with the Federated Brick Tile & Pottery Industrial Union of Australia and the Operative Painters' & Decorators' Union of Australia into the Construction Forestry Mining & Energy Union.

The United Furniture Trade Society of New South Wales was registered under the New South Wales Trade Union Act 1881 on 28 June 1886. The Society joined other state societies to form the Federated Furnishing Trade Societies of Australasia in 1909, though the NSW Society did not lodge an application for cancellation of its registration until 1916.