”While preparing my ''Reference List to the Birds of Australia'' (now in the press), I accumulated many notes of great interest regarding matters that need investigation. In that Reference List I have shortly indicated some of these matters, but detailed accounts could not there be introduced. I have therefore decided to publish, at irregular intervals, such notes as I deem necessary to require immediate attention and referring to birds which either have been already treated of in my ''Birds of Australia'' or will not be dealt with in the immediate future. In this place it is proposed to indicate new forms, notes on nomenclature and any other interesting matter relating to the Australian avifauna.〔Mathews, G.M. (1912). Editorial Note. ''Austral Avian Record'' 1: 1.〕

''The Austral Avian Record'' is published at irregular intervals, about four times per year, in parts of about 24 pages each, and often with a coloured Plate; eight parts form a volume. Price per volume 12/- post free. The "Austral Avian Record" contains:
# Discussions regarding the relationships and ranges of species and subspecies of particular genera, especially those not dealt with in Mathews' ''Birds of Australia''
# Revision of what has been published in the "Birds of Australia" when accession of material and new facts necessitate such revision
# Description of new forms
# Discussions regarding nomenclature
# Supplements to the ''Reference List of the Birds of Australia''
# Dates of Publication of works about which any doubt exists