Morgan Stanley commenced operations in Australia over 50 years ago when it was appointed by the Federal Government to lead bond raisings on international markets for the Commonwealth of Australia. Over the next six decades, the Firm has been regularly involved in significant corporate and financial market activity.

In 1998, the Firm commenced a substantial further build-up of its presence in Australia. With currently more than 350 employees in its offices in Sydney and Melbourne, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of services to local and international clients, including Corporate Finance, M&A's, IPO's, Advisory, Capital markets, Capital raisings and placements, Sales & Trading (Equity, Fixed income, Commodities and Derivative products, Prime Broking), Research (coverage of the Australian financial institutions, media, telecommunications, retail, consumer, health, biotechnology, industrial and resources sectors) and Investment Management (International funds, strategies and products for Australian investors covering equities, property, private equity and debt markets). In addition, Morgan Stanley's services centre at The Bond in Sydney provides support across a broad range of infrastructure functions to Morgan Stanley businesses in Asia Pacific and around the world.

Under the global joint venture between Morgan Stanley and Citi finalised on June 1, 2009, through which Morgan Stanley Global Wealth Management and Citi's Smith Barney businesses join forces, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Australia is a substantial player in the Australian retail financial services market with a deep pool of advisory excellence and experience, a strong client base and broad geographic coverage through five branch offices across Australia. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney provides a range of products and services to individual investors, institutions and private businesses including brokerage and investment advisory services, comprehensive financial and estate planning, superannuation and cash management.