The Australian Institute of Metals was formed on 26 August 1941 when a number of metallurgy research societies amalgamated, with each society becoming a branch of the Institute. It was incorporated in Victoria on 13 December 1946. On 5 May 1970 the Metallurgical Society of Canterbury affiliated with the AIM and became the New Zealand Institute of Metals Division of the Sydney Branch of the AIM. The Institute changed its name to the Australasian Institute of Metals in January 1976 and again in January 1986 to the Institute of Metals and Materials Australasia. In 1991 the Institute affiliated with the Institution of Engineers, Australis to become its Materials Society. In the late 1990s the Institute became the Institute of Materials Engineering Australasia Ltd.

The Steel Treatment Research Society (Australia) was formed in 1931 and held its inaugural meeting on 20 August 1931. The word 'Research' was dropped in the Society's title on 1 July 1935. A new title, the Metals Treatment Society of NSW and a new constitution were adopted on 22 September 1936. The Society amalgamated with other metallurgical societies on 26 August 1941 to form the Sydney branch of the Australian Institute of Metals.

Adrian Ashton was one of the founders of the Steel Treatment Research Society (Australia) and elected Honorary Secretary in 1931, a position he held continuously until his retirement in 1971. A qualified architect, Ashton worked as a journalist at the Building Publishing Company, editing The Australian/asian Engineer from 1946 and later Metals Australia/asia. His father was Australian artist, Sir William Ashton (1881 - 1963), and his grandfather was marine artist James Ashton.