The International Organisation for World Town Planning Day was founded in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.  In that same year the professor also founded the Instituto Superior de Urbanismo. His aim was to "advance public and professional interest in planning both locally and abroad" and create "a special day to recognise and promote the role of planning in creating livable communities." WTPD fell into decline after Professor della Paolera died, except in Turkey, which observed it alone for 20 years. It was revived in 1995 by the International Society of City and Regional Planners (ISoCaRP) and has been promoted steadily ever since. By its 50th Anniversary in 1999, it was marked in about 30 countries on four continents.   In Victoria, the celebrations provide a good opportunity to highlight the many achievements of planning in the State and remember the founding persons and main contributors to planning.

Among these founding persons are Alfred Kemsley, Fred Perry and Frank Stapley (members of the Town Planning Commission established in 1922 that produced the Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy in 1929), Frank Borrie and Alaistair Hepburn (Chief Planners of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works), and Professor Fred Ledgar who established the first planning course at University of Melbourne. 

Key contributors include The Hon. Alan Hunt, first Minister for Planning in Victoria (appointed in 1974); and The Hon. Evan Walker, Minister for Planning and Environment in the period 1982 - 1986, under whose guidance the plans for Southbank, Jolimont, Lynch's Bridge, the National Tennis Centre and Bay Cove were laid down.

• Education -- to help educate  members of the community about  planning's positive impacts on community livability; 
• Celebration -- to highlight planning achievements; 
• Recognition -- honor people involved in the planning process.