The Port Adelaide Chamber of Commerce, as it was then called, was established by local traders in 1936. Mr F Brook and Mr R Farquharson called the first meeting. The majority of members were involved in banking, real estate and shipping. Many members were also local elected councillors.

Within 12 months of its establishment, however, a group of retail traders had broken away from the Chamber (March 1937) and established the Port Adelaide Retail Traders Association in a bid to be heard above those matters to do with shipping.

When the State celebrated the centenary of its foundation in 1936, the economic climate was slowly improving from severe depression. It had forced politicians, public servants and leading business people to stimulate industrial development rather than farming. The Chamber was incorporated on the 11th June 1937 and from that date was at the heart of many major State initiatives.

To overcome the disabilities of long distance from the main eastern markets for SA’s manufactured goods and high cost of importing New South Wales coal for generating electricity, the government offered incentives to manufacturers. As a first step, the government reduced company taxation rates and lowered wharfage rates on outbound goods, measures which may have persuaded General Motors-Holdens Ltd to remain at Woodville rather than move to Victoria. Further steps were the building of the Birkenhead bridge, the assistance to build a steel and concrete wharf to serve the Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd salt and alkali plant at Osborne, and the proclamation of the Lefevre Peninsula as a 'protected' industrial area. Government, business and the trade unions worked together harmoniously in moves to strengthen the State's manufacturing base and to ensure that not all the benefits flowing from Australia's tariff on imported manufactured goods went to firms in Sydney and Melbourne.

Mr Arthur Oscar Reynolds Tapp (a Chamber member for 36 years and President for 10 of those) acted as our regional delegate to the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce for 10 years. In 1972 Mr Tapp was made a life member of the Port Adelaide Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his services.

From the 1970s and onwards the increased use and of air road freighting coupled with the “recession we had to have” Port Adelaide lost its market position as an affordable gateway to and from the state. The role of the Chamber became more important as a catalyst for investment but local businesses were less able to financially support the Chamber to do so.  Local businesses kept the Chamber alive during this time, ensuring that a local voice was able to be heard. The Chamber recognised the efforts of John McLachlan with a life membership.  In 1996 with the amalgamation of Councils the Port Adelaide Chamber of Commerce became the Port Adelaide Enfield Chamber of Commerce.