Professor Kurt Mahler was one of the majors characters of Australian mathematics from his arrival in this country in the 1960s, until his death in 1988. The Society was a beneficiary under the will of Professor Mahler. The money from this bequest has been used to set up a visiting lectureship in his honour.

The Mahler Lectureship is awarded every two years to a distinguished mathematician who preferably works in a area of mathematics associated with the work of Professor Mahler. It is usually expected that the Lecturer will speak at one of the main Society Conferences and visit as many universities as can be reasonably managed.