The First International Polychaete Conference was held in Sydney, Australia, from 4–9 July 1983, hosted by the Australian Museum and organized by Pat Hutchings and Sebastian Rainer. It brought together 90 scientists from 20 countries. The conference featured four days of scientific presentations, including 52 oral papers and 18 posters. Topics ranged from taxonomy and ecology to reproduction and development, reflecting the breadth and growing depth of research on polychaetes at the time. The Proceedings, edited by Pat Hutchings and published by the Linnean Society of New South Wales, included 36 peer-reviewed papers. The meeting was also notable for its collegial and inclusive atmosphere. A pre-conference picnic, informal name badges, and a mid-week excursion to the Hunter Valley helped foster a strong sense of community among participants. The conference concluded with a post-meeting field trip to Lizard Island Research Station, which led to long-term collaborations and friendships. Although the International Polychaetology Association (IPA) was not formally established until the following conference in Copenhagen, the 1983 meeting laid the groundwork for what would become a triennial tradition of international collaboration in polychaete research.