About the Lowy Institute

Our Building

The building that houses the Lowy Institute was built for the New South Wales Club founded in 1886. Located in Bligh Street in Sydney’s central business district, it is classified by the National Trust and listed for permanent conservation under the 1976 Heritage Act - one of the first buildings to be saved from demolition under the Act. It is the finest Italian Palazzo façade surviving from the Victorian period in Australia.

This classic sandstone building built of Pyrmont brick joinery, slate roof and fine Victorian interiors was designed by William Wardell, one of the most distinguished architects of his time.

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Afghanistan: The big push
I hope to have some expert commentary for you next week about what this major US offensive in Afghanistan really means in strategic terms. One observation I would make is that the Marines'...Read more

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India's security challenges: Pakistan, Afghanistan and the neighbourhood

In the 2009 Australia-India Strategic Lecture, delivered at the Lowy Institute on 11 May, Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan examined India’s dangerous neighbourhood, and in particular the deep security challenges posed by the situations in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He presented a sobering picture of the prospects for these countries, and the implications for India and other countries threatened by jihadist terrorism.

Ambassador Gharekhan's lecture can be downloaded here:
India's security challenges - PDF (167KB)

His speech can be heard here:
India's security challenges - MP3 (20MB)

Video of this presentation is also available. More

Indonesia's democratic choices

Indonesia's parliamentary elections in April underlined just how far democracy has come in the world's fourth most populous country and Australia's closest Asian neighbour. The campaign itself and the ballot box results also provide some clear signals about the future shape and health of Indonesia's democratic system.

In a new Lowy Institute Analysis, Dr Marcus Mietzner from the Australian National University clearly analyses the election results and what they can tell us about Indonesia's democratic future. The report goes well beyond predictions about the upcoming presidential election and looks forward to the post-Yudhoyono era of Indonesian politics.

'Indonesia's 2009 elections: populism, dynasties and the consolidation of the party system' can be downloaded here.

Download item (554KB)