Dear Shareholder,

We present this Annual Report, which covers the activities of Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017. The Fund’s principal investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity securities of Australian companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited. Its secondary objective is current income, which is expected to be derived primarily from dividends and interest on Australian corporate and governmental securities.

Total Investment Return

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the total return to shareholders of the Fund based on the net asset value (“NAV”) and market price of the Fund compared to the Fund’s benchmark are as follows:

The Fund’s total return is based on the reported NAV on each financial reporting period end and may differ from what is reported on the Financial Highlights due to financial statement rounding or adjustments. For more information about Fund performance please see page 3 Report of the Investment Manager.

NAV, Share Price and Discount

Managed Distribution Policy

The Fund has a managed distribution policy of paying quarterly distributions at an annual rate, set once a year, that is a percentage of the rolling average of the Fund’s prior four quarter-end net asset values. In March 2017, the Board of Directors of the Fund (the “Board”) determined the rolling distribution rate to be 10% for the 12-month period commencing with the distribution payable in March 2017. This policy will be subject to regular review by the Board. The distributions will be made from current income,

supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital, which is a non-taxable return of capital.

On December 11, 2017, the Fund announced that it will pay on January 8, 2018, a distribution of $0.16 per share to all shareholders of record as of December 29, 2017.

Open Market Repurchase Program

The Fund’s policy is generally to buy back Fund shares on the open market when the Fund trades at certain discounts to NAV. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund did not repurchase any shares.

Merger of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC with Standard Life plc

The Fund’s investment manager, investment adviser and administrator are each a subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen PLC”). The merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen PLC, announced on March 6, 2017 (“Merger”), closed on August 14, 2017. Aberdeen PLC became a direct subsidiary of Standard Life plc as a result of the Merger and the combined company changed its name to Standard Life Aberdeen plc. Shareholders of the Fund are not required to take any action as a result of the Merger. Following the Merger, the Fund’s investment manager, investment adviser and administrator each became an indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc, but otherwise did not change. The investment management, investment advisory and administration agreements for the Fund, the services provided under the agreements, and the fees charged for services also did not change as a result of the Merger. The portfolio management team for the Fund also has remained the same since the Merger.

Portfolio Holdings Disclosure

The Fund’s complete schedule of portfolio holdings for the second and fourth quarters of each fiscal year are included in the Fund’s semi-annual and annual report to shareholders. The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The Fund’s Form N-Q filings are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov and may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information about the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. The Fund makes the information on Form N-Q available to shareholders

on the Fund’s website or upon request and without charge by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465.

Proxy Voting

A description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities, and information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the most recent twelve months ended June 30 is available by August 31 of the relevant year: (i) upon request without charge by calling Investor Relations toll-free at 1-800-522-5465; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

Unclaimed Share Accounts

Please be advised that abandoned or unclaimed property laws for certain states require financial organizations to transfer (escheat) unclaimed property (including Fund shares) to the state. Each state has its own definition of unclaimed property, and Fund shares could be considered “unclaimed property” due to account inactivity (e.g., no owner-generated activity for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned to the Fund’s transfer agent as undeliverable), or a combination of both. If your Fund shares are categorized as unclaimed, your financial advisor or the Fund’s transfer agent will follow the applicable state’s statutory requirements to contact you, but if unsuccessful, laws may require that the shares be escheated to the appropriate state. If this happens, you will have to contact the state to recover your property, which may involve time and expense. For more information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account, please contact your financial adviser or the Fund’s transfer agent.

Investor Relations Information

As part of Aberdeen’s commitment to shareholders, we invite you to visit the Fund on the web at www.aberdeeniaf.com. Here, you can

view monthly fact sheets, quarterly commentary, distribution and

performance information, updated daily fact sheets courtesy of Morningstar^®, portfolio charting and other Fund literature.

Enroll in our email services today and be among the first to receive the latest closed-end fund news, announcements, videos and information. In addition, you can receive electronic versions of important Fund documents including annual reports, semi-annual reports, prospectuses, and proxy statements. Sign up today at cef.aberdeen-asset.us/en/cefinvestorcenter/contact-us/email.

For your convenience, included within this report is a reply card with postage paid envelope. Please complete and mail the card if you would like to be added to our enhanced email service and receive future communications from Aberdeen.

Contact Us:

Yours sincerely,

/s/ Christian Pittard

Christian Pittard

President

Market/economic review

Australian equities rose during the 12-month period ended October 31, 2017, but lagged their Asia-Pacific region peers, as banking stocks tumbled on concerns about federal government levies and increased regulatory scrutiny. Also weighing on the market was the telecommunications sector, which was hit by increased competition and uncertainty around the National Broadband Network rollout. Conversely, rising commodity prices and increased demand from China lent support to materials and mining stocks. Towards the end of the period, gains were capped by the dual-citizenship debacle that resulted in Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s ineligibility to hold public office and cost the Liberal-led coalition its one-seat majority in the Parliament. Four other politicians were also disqualified. Joyce subsequently renounced his New Zealand citizenship and was permitted to run again in a by-election, which he won by a wide margin in early December 2017.

On the economic front, the Reserve Bank of Australia kept its benchmark interest rate on hold at 1.5% over the reporting period, as inflation remained benign on the back of lackluster retail sales and rising mortgage rates and utility prices. The economy recovered, growing by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2017, with increases in non-mining business investment and public spending. Building approvals rose and unemployment fell to a four-year low in September 2017.

Fund performance review

The Fund modestly underperformed its benchmark, the S&P/ASX 200 Index, on a net asset value basis for the 12-month period ended October 31, 2017. At the stock level, the Fund’s overweight exposure to Healthscope versus the benchmark detracted from performance, as investors’ doubts arose over the private hospital operator’s ability to execute on its large brownfield pipeline, following two profit downgrades in the year. However, we believe that its long-term prospects remain robust, as it is the second-largest private hospital operator in Australia, with structural tailwinds from an aging population and a budget-constrained public healthcare system. Fund performance also was hampered by the position in shopping center-focused property developer Westfield Group, as its shares fell in line with the broader real estate investment trust (REIT) sector. General weakness in the U.S. retail sector resulted in softer sales across global mall operators, including Westfield. We are comforted by the fact that Westfield is more exposed to the high-quality malls such as the World Trade Center in New York, which we feel will be more insulated from e-commerce-related impacts. Finally, the lack of exposure to National Australia Bank weighed on Fund performance. The lender’s shares rose after the disposal of its non-performing assets in the U.S. and U.K., resulting in a leaner business structure. However, we believe that the Fund’s other major local bank holdings provide better investment opportunities.

Conversely, the Fund’s holding in AGL Energy was a key contributor to Fund performance for the reporting period. The energy producer posted positive results for the first half of its 2017 fiscal year, attributable to improved margins and effective cost control. The company subsequently continued to benefit from a favorable electricity wholesale market. The Fund’s positions in healthcare companies Cochlear and CSL also aided Fund performance. Cochlear’s quarterly results over the period generally exceeded investors’ expectations, leading to a rally in the stock price, supported by expanded margins and sustainable sales momentum. CSL reported higher revenues over the period, driven by robust demand for its Behring biotherapies.

During the reporting period, we initiated holdings in financial services company IOOF Holdings and telecommunications and digital services provider Spark New Zealand, as they have attractive valuations and a solid focus on controlling costs, in our view. We also initiated a position in wine maker and distributor Treasury Wine Estates, which we believe has a sustainable earnings growth outlook. Conversely, we exited the Fund’s position in Tatts Group, an operator of regulated lotteries and sports betting, taking advantage of the stock price trading ahead of Tabcorp’s bid for the company, since we expected the takeover to progress.

Outlook

We think that some risks to economic growth in Australia are emerging, with credit tightening following banks raising mortgage rates in response to macroprudential* tightening. We believe that the environment for consumers is weakening, with still-soft wage growth and rising cost pressures, particularly for gas and electricity. We will continue to monitor the impact of intensifying competition from new entrants to the retail industry. We are optimistic about mining companies, given the global reflation trend and ongoing supply discipline in key commodity markets. Given the lack of macroeconomic catalysts (aside from offshore-exposed companies that are being buoyed by improving global growth), we believe that companies will rely more heavily on their own initiatives to achieve earnings growth, including technology and automation upgrades, acquisitions, market-share gains and cost-reduction programs.

Overall, we remain cautiously optimistic about Australian equities. We will continue to make the most of market volatility, taking the opportunity to initiate positions in companies that we have been tracking; add to those we already hold; or shift towards others that we feel possess better risk-versus-reward fundamentals. Our focus remains on cash-generative businesses that we believe have solid balance sheets and are run by prudent management teams.

Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited

1. Organization

Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”) is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company incorporated in Maryland on September 30, 1985. The Fund’s principal investment objective is long-term capital appreciation through investment primarily in equity securities of Australian companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited. Its secondary objective is current income, which is expected to be derived primarily from dividends and interest on Australian corporate and governmental securities. The Fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities, consisting of common stock, preferred stock and convertible stock, of companies tied economically to Australia (each an “Australian Company”). This 80% investment policy is a non-fundamental policy of the Fund and may be changed by the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. As a fundamental policy, at least 65% of the Fund’s total assets must be invested in companies listed on the Australian Stock Exchange Limited (“ASX”). Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited, the Fund’s investment manager (“AAMAL” or the “Investment Manager”), uses the following criteria in determining if a company is “tied economically” to Australia: whether the company (i) is a constituent of the ASX; (ii) has its headquarters located in Australia, (iii) pays dividends on its stock in Australian Dollars; (iv) has its accounts audited by Australian auditors; (v) is subject to Australian taxes levied by the Australian Taxation Office; (vi) holds its annual general meeting in Australia; (vii) has common stock/ordinary shares and/or other principal class of securities registered with Australian regulatory authorities for sale in Australia; (viii) is incorporated in Australia; or (ix) has a majority of its assets located in Australia or a majority of its revenues are derived from Australian sources. There can be no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The Fund is an investment company and accordingly follows the investment company accounting and reporting guidance of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standard Codification Topic 946 Financial Services-Investment Companies. The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of

the financial statements, and the reported amounts of income and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The accounting records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. Dollars and the U.S. Dollar is used as both the functional and reporting currency. However, the Australian Dollar is the functional currency for U.S. federal tax purposes.

a. Security Valuation:

The Fund values its securities at current market value or fair value, consistent with regulatory requirements. “Fair value” is defined in the Fund’s Valuation and Liquidity Procedures as the price that could be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between willing market participants without a compulsion to transact at the measurement date.

In accordance with the authoritative guidance on fair value measurements and disclosures under GAAP, the Fund discloses the fair value of its investments using a three-level hierarchy that classifies the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure the fair value. The hierarchy assigns Level 1, the highest level, measurements to valuations based upon unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets, Level 2 measurements to valuations based upon other significant observable inputs, including adjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets, and Level 3, the lowest level, measurements to valuations based upon unobservable inputs that are significant to the valuation. Inputs refer broadly to the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk, for example, the risk inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value including a pricing model and/or the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs may be observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which are based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

Equity securities that are traded on an exchange are valued at the last quoted sale price on the principal exchange on which the security is traded at the “Valuation Time” subject to application, when appropriate, of the valuation factors described in the paragraph below. The Valuation Time is as of the close of regular trading on the

New York Stock Exchange (usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). In the absence of a sale price, the security is valued at the mean of the bid/ask price quoted at the close on the principal exchange on which the security is traded. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ official closing price. Closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) are valued at the market price of the security at the Valuation Time. A security using any of these pricing methodologies is determined to be a Level 1 investment.

Foreign equity securities that are traded on foreign exchanges that close prior to Valuation Time are valued by applying valuation factors to the last sale price or the mean price as noted above. Valuation factors are provided by an independent pricing service provider approved by the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”). These valuation factors are used when pricing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to estimate market movements between the time foreign markets close and the time the Fund values such foreign securities. These valuation factors are based on inputs such as depositary receipts, indices, futures, sector indices/ETFs, exchange rates, and local exchange opening and closing prices of each security. When prices with the application of valuation factors are utilized, the value assigned to the foreign securities may not be the same as quoted or published prices of the securities on their primary markets. A security that applies a valuation factor is determined to be a Level 2 investment because the exchange-traded price has been adjusted. Valuation factors are not utilized if the independent pricing service provider is unable to provide a valuation factor or if the valuation factor falls below a predetermined threshold; in such case, the security is determined to be a Level 1 investment.

Short-term investments are comprised of cash and cash equivalents invested in short-term investment funds which are redeemable daily.

The Fund sweeps available cash into the State Street Institutional U.S. Government Money Market Fund, which has elected to qualify as a “government money market fund” pursuant to Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and has an objective, which is not guaranteed, to maintain a $1.00 per share net asset value. Generally, these investment types are categorized as Level 1 investments.

In the event that a security’s market quotations are not readily available or are deemed unreliable (for reasons other than because the foreign exchange on which they trade closed before the Valuation Time), the security is valued at fair value as determined by the Fund’s Pricing Committee, taking into account the relevant factors and surrounding circumstances using valuation policies and procedures approved and established by the Board. A security that has been fair valued by the Fund’s Pricing Committee may be classified as Level 2 or Level 3 depending on the nature of the inputs.

The three-level hierarchy of inputs is summarized below:

Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments;

Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, and credit risk); or

Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of October 31, 2017 in valuing the Fund’s investments at fair value. The inputs or methodologies used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. Please refer to the Portfolio of Investments for a detailed breakout of the security types:

For movements between the levels within the fair value hierarchy, the Fund has adopted a policy of recognizing transfers at the end of each fiscal period. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, there were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, there were no significant changes to the fair valuation methodologies.

b. Foreign Currency Translation:

Foreign securities, currencies, and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. Dollars at the exchange rate of said currencies against the U.S. Dollar, as of the Valuation Time, as provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Board.

Foreign currency amounts are translated into U.S. Dollars on the following basis:

The Fund isolates that portion of the results of operations arising from changes in the foreign exchange rates due to the fluctuations in the market prices of the securities held at the end of the reporting period. Similarly, the Fund isolates the effect of changes in foreign exchange rates from the fluctuations arising from changes in the market prices of portfolio securities sold during the reporting period.

Net exchange gain/(loss) is realized from sales and maturities of portfolio securities, sales of foreign currencies, settlement of securities transactions, dividends, interest and foreign withholding taxes recorded on the Fund’s books. Net unrealized foreign exchange appreciation/(depreciation) includes changes in the value of portfolio securities and other assets and liabilities arising as a result of changes in the exchange rate. The net realized and unrealized foreign exchange gain/(loss) shown in the composition of net assets represents foreign exchange gain/(loss) for book purposes that may not have been recognized for tax purposes.

Foreign security and currency transactions may involve certain considerations and risks not typically associated with those of domestic origin, including unanticipated movements in the value of the foreign currency relative to the U.S. Dollar. Generally, when the U.S. Dollar rises in value against foreign currency, the Fund’s investments denominated in that foreign currency will lose value because the foreign currency is worth fewer U.S. Dollars; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. Dollar falls in relative value.

c. Security Transactions, Investment Income and Expenses:

Security transactions are recorded on the trade date. Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) from security and currency transactions are calculated on the identified cost basis. Dividend income and corporate actions are recorded generally on the ex-date, except for certain dividends and corporate actions which may be recorded after the ex-date, as soon as the Fund acquires information regarding such dividends or corporate actions. Interest income and expenses are recorded on an accrual basis.

d. Distributions:

The Fund has a managed distribution policy to pay distributions from net investment income supplemented by net realized foreign

exchange gains, net realized short-term capital gains and return of capital distributions, if necessary, on a quarterly basis. The managed distribution policy is subject to regular review by the Board. The Fund will also declare and pay distributions at least annually from net realized gains on investment transactions and net realized foreign exchange gains, if any. Dividends and distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Dividends and distributions to shareholders are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP. These differences are primarily due to differing treatments for foreign currencies, loss deferrals and recognition of market discount and premium.

e. Federal Income Taxes:

The Fund, for U.S. federal income purposes is comprised of a separately identifiable unit called a Qualified Business Unit (“QBUs”) (see section 987 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”)). The Fund has operated with a QBU for U.S. federal income purposes since 1989. The home office is designated as the United States and the QBU is Australia with a functional currency of the Australian dollar. The securities held within the Fund reside within either the home office of the QBU or the home office depending on certain factors including geographic region. As an example, the majority of the Fund’s Australian securities reside within the Australian QBU. When sold, the Australian dollar denominated securities within the Australian QBU generate capital gain/loss but not currency gain/loss, because the QBU’s functional currency is Australian dollar.

IRC section 987 states that currency gain/loss is generated when money is repatriated from a QBU to the home office. The currency gain/loss would result from the difference between the current exchange rate and the average exchange rate for the year during which money was originally contributed to the QBU from the home office. Based on the QBU structure, there may be sizable differences in the currency gain/loss recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes and what is reported within the financial statements under GAAP. Additionally, the Fund’s composition of the distributions to shareholders is calculated based on U.S. federal income tax requirements whereby currency gain/loss is characterized as income and distributed as such. As of the Fund’s fiscal year-end, the calculation of the composition of distributions to shareholders is finalized and reported in the Fund’s annual report to shareholders.

The Fund intends to continue to qualify as a “regulated investment company” by complying with the provisions available to certain investment companies, as defined in Subchapter M of the IRC, and to make distributions of net investment income and net realized capital

gains sufficient to relieve the Fund from all federal income taxes. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is required. Since tax authorities can examine previously filed tax returns, the Fund’s U.S. federal and state tax returns for each of the four fiscal years up to the most recent fiscal year ended October 31 are subject to such review.

f. Foreign Withholding Tax

Dividend and interest income from non-U.S. sources received by the Fund are generally subject to non-U.S. withholding taxes. In addition, the Fund may be subject to capital gains tax in certain countries in which it invests. The above taxes may be reduced or eliminated under the terms of applicable U.S. income tax treaties with some of these countries. The Fund accrues such taxes when the related income is earned.

In addition, when the Fund sells securities within certain countries in which it invests, the capital gains realized may be subject to tax. Based on these market requirements and as required under GAAP, the Fund accrues deferred capital gains tax on securities currently held that have unrealized appreciation within these countries. The amount of deferred capital gains tax accrued is reported on the Statement of Operations as part of the Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation/Depreciation on Investments.

g. Repurchase Agreements:

The Fund may enter into a repurchase agreement under the terms of a Master Repurchase Agreement. It is the Fund’s policy that its custodian/counterparty segregate the underlying collateral securities, the value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest. The repurchase price generally equals the price paid by the Fund plus interest negotiated on the basis of current short-term rates. To the extent that any repurchase transaction exceeds one business day, the collateral is valued on a daily basis to determine its adequacy. If the counterparty to a repurchase agreement defaults and the value of the collateral declines, or if bankruptcy proceedings are commenced with respect to the counterparty of the security, realization of the collateral by the Fund may be delayed or limited. Repurchase agreements are subject to contractual netting arrangements with the counterparty, Fixed Income Clearing Corp. To the extent the Fund enters into repurchase agreements, additional information on individual repurchase agreements is included in the Statements of Investments. As of and during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund did not hold any repurchase agreements.

3. Agreements and Transactions with Affiliates

Merger of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC with Standard Life plc

The Fund’s investment manager, investment adviser and administrator are each a subsidiary of Aberdeen Asset Management PLC (“Aberdeen PLC”). The merger of Standard Life plc and Aberdeen PLC was announced on March 6, 2017 and closed on August 14, 2017 (“Merger”). Aberdeen PLC became a direct subsidiary of Standard Life plc as a result of the Merger and the combined company adviser, sub-adviser changed its name to Standard Life Aberdeen plc. Shareholders of the Fund are not required to take any action as a result of the Merger. Following the Merger, the Fund’s investment manager, investment adviser and administrator each became an indirect subsidiary of Standard Life Aberdeen plc, but otherwise did not change. The investment management, investment advisory and administration agreements for the Fund, the services provided under the agreements, and the fees charged for services also did not change as a result of the Merger. The portfolio management team for the Fund also has remained the same following the Merger.

a. Investment Manager and Investment Adviser:

AAMAL serves as investment manager to the Fund and Aberdeen Asset Management Limited (the “Investment Adviser”) serves as investment adviser to the Fund, pursuant to a management agreement and an advisory agreement, respectively. The Investment Manager and the Investment Adviser are indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of Standard Life Aberdeen plc (collectively the “Advisers”).

The Investment Manager makes investment decisions on behalf of the Fund on the basis of recommendations and information furnished to it by the Investment Adviser, including the selection of, and responsibility for the placement of orders with, brokers and dealers to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund.

Pursuant to the management agreement, the Fund pays the Investment Manager a fee, payable monthly by the Fund, at the following annual rates: 1.10% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets up to $50 million, 0.90% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets between $50 million and $100 million and 0.70% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets in excess of $100 million. Managed Assets is defined in the management agreement as net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes. The Investment Adviser is paid by the Investment Manager, and not the Fund, for its services.

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, AAMAL earned $1,314,705 from the Fund for investment management fees.

b. Fund Administration:

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc. (“AAMI”), an affiliate of the Investment Manager and the Investment Adviser, is the Fund’s Administrator, pursuant to an agreement under which AAMI receives a fee, payable monthly by the Fund, at an annual fee rate of 0.08% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets up to $500 million, 0.07% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets between $500 million and $1.5 billion, and 0.06% of the Fund’s average weekly Managed Assets in excess of $1.5 billion. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, AAMI earned $115,966 from the Fund for administration services.

c. Investor Relations:

Under the terms of the Investor Relations Services Agreement, AAMI provides and pays third parties to provide investor relations services to the Fund and certain other funds advised by AAMAL or its affiliates as part of an Investor Relations Program. Under the Investor Relations Services Agreement, the Fund owes a portion of the fees related to the Investor Relations Program (the “Fund’s Portion”). However, investor relations services fees are capped by AAMI so that the Fund will only pay up to an annual rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets. Any difference between the capped rate of 0.05% of the Fund’s average weekly net assets and the Fund’s Portion is paid for by AAMI.

Pursuant to the terms of the Investor Relations Services Agreement, AAMI (or third parties engaged by AAMI), among other things, provides objective and timely information to shareholders based on publicly-available information; provides information efficiently through the use of technology while offering shareholders immediate access to knowledgeable investor relations representatives; develops and maintains effective communications with investment professionals from a wide variety of firms; creates and maintains investor relations communication materials such as fund manager interviews, films and webcasts, published white papers, magazine articles and other relevant materials discussing the Fund’s investment results, portfolio positioning and outlook; develops and maintains effective communications with large institutional shareholders; responds to specific shareholder questions; and reports activities and results to the Board and management detailing insight into general shareholder sentiment.

During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, the Fund incurred investor relations fees of approximately $81,273. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, AAMI did not waive any investor relations fees because the Fund did not reach the capped amount.

4. Investment Transactions

Purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term securities) for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017, were $17,382,047 and $30,209,756, respectively.

5. Capital

The authorized capital of the Fund is 30 million shares of $0.01 par value per share of common stock. As of October 31, 2017, there were 22,742,326 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

6. Open Market Repurchase Program

On March 1, 2001, the Board approved a stock repurchase program. The Board amended the program on December 12, 2007. The stock repurchase program allows the Fund to repurchase up to 10% of its outstanding common stock in the open market during any 12-month period. The Fund reports repurchase activity on the Fund’s website on a monthly basis. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017 and fiscal year ended October 31, 2016, the Fund repurchased 0 and 131,694 shares, respectively, through this program.

7. Portfolio Investment Risks

a. Risks Associated with Foreign Securities and Currencies

Investments in securities of foreign issuers carry certain risks not ordinarily associated with investments in securities of U.S. issuers. These risks include future political and economic developments, and the possible imposition of exchange controls or other foreign governmental laws and restrictions. In addition, with respect to certain countries, there is the possibility of expropriation of assets, confiscatory taxation, and political or social instability or diplomatic developments, which could adversely affect investments in those countries.

Certain countries also may impose substantial restrictions on investments in their capital markets by foreign entities, including restrictions on investments in issuers of industries deemed sensitive to relevant national interests. These factors may limit the investment opportunities available and result in a lack of liquidity and high price volatility with respect to securities of issuers from developing countries. Foreign securities may also be harder to price than U.S. securities.

The value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. Dollar fluctuates in response to market, economic, political, regulatory, geopolitical or other conditions. A decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. Dollar reduces the value in U.S. Dollars of investments denominated in that foreign currency. This risk may impact the Fund more greatly to the extent the Fund does not hedge its currency risk, or hedging techniques used by the Adviser are unsuccessful.

b. Focus Risk

The Fund may have elements of risk not typically associated with investments in the United States due to focused investments in a

limited number of countries or regions subject to foreign securities or currencies risks. Such focused investments may subject the Fund to additional risks resulting from political or economic conditions in such countries or regions and the possible imposition of adverse governmental laws or currency exchange restrictions could cause the securities and their markets to be less liquid and their prices to be more volatile than those of comparable U.S. securities.

c. Sector Risk

To the extent that the Fund has a significant portion of its assets invested in securities of companies conducting business in a broadly related group of industries within an economic sector, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in that economic sector than funds that invest more broadly.

In particular, being invested heavily in the financial sector may make the Fund vulnerable to risks and pressures facing companies in that

sector, such as regulatory, consolidation, interest rate changes and general economic conditions.

8. Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Fund may provide general indemnifications pursuant to certain contracts and organizational documents. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is dependent on future claims that may be made against the Fund, and therefore, cannot be estimated; however, based on experience, the risk of loss from such claims is considered remote.

9. Tax Information

The U.S. federal income tax basis of the Fund’s investments and the net unrealized appreciation as of October 31, 2017 were as follows:

10. Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated the need for disclosures and/or adjustments resulting from subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued. Based on this evaluation, no disclosures and/or adjustments were required to the financial statements as of October 31, 2017, other than as follows.

On December 11, 2017, the Fund announced that it will pay on January 8, 2018 a distribution of $0.16 per share to all shareholders of record as of December 29, 2017.

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the portfolio of investments, of the Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (the “Fund”), as of October 31, 2017, and the related statement of operations for the year then ended, the statements of changes in net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of October 31, 2017, by

correspondence with the custodian, or by other appropriate auditing procedures. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of October 31, 2017, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the years in the two-year period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the years in the five-year period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

December 28, 2017

Board of Directors’ Consideration of Management and Advisory Agreements

At an in-person meeting of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (“IAF” or the “Fund”) held on September 13, 2017, the Board, including a majority of the Directors who are not considered to be “interested persons” of the Fund (the “Independent Directors”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), approved for an annual period the continuation of the Fund’s management agreement with Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited (the “Investment Manager”) and the investment advisory agreement among the Fund, the Investment Manager and Aberdeen Asset Management Limited (the “Investment Adviser”). Collectively, the Investment Manager and the Investment Adviser are referred to herein as the “Advisers” and the aforementioned agreements with the Advisers are referred to as the “Advisory Agreements.” The Investment Adviser is an affiliate of the Investment Manager.

In considering whether to approve the renewal of the Fund’s Advisory Agreements, the Board reviews a variety of information provided by the Advisers relating to IAF, the Advisory Agreements and the Advisers, including comparative performance, fee and expense information and other information regarding the nature, extent and quality of services provided by the Advisers under their respective Advisory Agreements. The materials provided to the Board generally include, among other items: (i) information on the investment performance of the Fund and the performance of peer

groups of funds and the Fund’s performance benchmarks; (ii) information on the Fund’s advisory fees and other expenses,

including information comparing the Fund’s expenses to those of a peer group of funds and information about any applicable expense limitations and fee “breakpoints”; (iii) information about the profitability of the Advisory Agreements to the Advisers; (iv) a report prepared by the Advisers in response to a request submitted by the Independent Directors’ independent legal counsel on behalf of such Directors; and (v) a memorandum from the Independent Directors’ independent legal counsel on the responsibilities of the Board in considering for approval the investment advisory arrangements under the 1940 Act and Maryland law. The Board, including the Fund’s Independent Directors, also considered other matters such as: (i) the Advisers’ financial results and financial condition; (ii) the Fund’s investment objective and strategies; (iii) the Advisers’ investment personnel and operations; (iv) the procedures employed to determine the value of the Fund’s assets; (v) the allocation of the Fund’s brokerage, if any, including, if applicable, allocations to brokers affiliated with the Advisers and the use, if any, of “soft” commission dollars to pay Fund expenses and to pay for research and other similar services; (vi) the resources devoted to, and the record of compliance with, the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions, policies on personal securities transactions and other compliance policies; and (vii) possible conflicts of interest. Throughout the process, the Board was afforded the opportunity to ask questions of and request additional materials from the Advisers.

In addition to the materials requested by the Directors in connection with their annual consideration of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements, the Directors received materials in advance of each regular quarterly meeting of the Board that provided information relating to the services provided by the Advisers.

The Independent Directors were advised by separate independent legal counsel throughout the process. The Independent Directors also consulted in executive sessions with counsel to the Independent Directors regarding consideration of the renewal of the Advisory Agreements. The Directors also considered the recommendation of the Board’s Contract Review Committee, consisting solely of the Board’s Independent Directors, that the Advisory Agreements be renewed. In considering whether to approve the continuation of the Advisory Agreements, the Board, including the Independent Directors, did not identify any single factor as determinative. Individual Directors may have evaluated the information presented differently from one another, giving different weights to various factors. Matters considered by the Board, including the Independent Directors, in connection with its approval of the continuation of the Advisory Agreements included the factors listed below.

The nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund under the Advisory Agreements. The Directors considered the nature, extent and quality of the services provided by the Advisers to the Fund and the resources dedicated to the Fund by the Advisers. The Board considered, among other things, the Advisers’ investment experience. The Board received information regarding the Advisers’ compliance with applicable laws and SEC and other regulatory inquiries or audits of the Fund and the Advisers. The Board also considered the background and experience of the Advisers’ senior management personnel and the qualifications, background and responsibilities of the portfolio managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management services for the Fund. The Board also considered the allocation of responsibilities among the Advisers. The Board also considered that they receive information on a regular basis from the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer regarding the Advisers’ compliance policies and procedures. The Board also considered the Advisers’ risk management processes. The Board considered the Advisers’ brokerage policies and practices. Management reported to the Board on, among other things, its business plans and organizational changes. The Directors also took into account their knowledge of management and the quality of the performance of management’s duties through Board meetings, discussion and reports during the preceding year.

After reviewing these and related factors, the Board concluded that they were satisfied with the nature, extent and quality of the services provided and supported the renewal of the Advisory Agreements.

Investment performance of the Fund and the Advisers. The Board received and reviewed with management, among other performance data, information compiled by Strategic Insight Mutual Fund Research and Consulting, LLC (“SI”), an independent third-party provider of investment company data as to the Fund’s total return, as compared to the funds in the Fund’s Morningstar category (the “Morningstar Group”). The Board also received performance information from management that compared the Fund’s return to comparable non-U.S. investment companies in its Lipper category.

The Board received and considered information for each of the last five fiscal years regarding the Fund’s total return on a gross and net basis and relative to the Fund’s benchmark, the Fund’s share performance and premium/discount information and the impact of foreign currency movements on the Fund’s performance. The Board also received and reviewed information as to the Fund’s total return for each of the last five fiscal years as compared with the total returns of its Morningstar Group average, and other comparable Aberdeen-managed funds. The Board considered management’s discussion of the factors contributing to differences in performance, including differences in the investment strategies of each of these other funds and accounts. The Board also reviewed information as to the Fund’s discount/premium ranking relative to its Morningstar Group. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Fund’s performance.

Fees and expenses. The Board reviewed with management the effective annual management fee rate paid by the Fund to the Investment Manager for investment management services. Additionally, the Board received and considered information compiled at the request of the Fund by SI, comparing the Fund’s effective annual management fee rate with the fees paid by a peer group consisting of other comparable closed-end funds (each such group, a “Peer Group”). The Board also took into account the management fee structure, including that management fees for the Fund were based on the Fund’s total managed assets. The Board also considered that the compensation paid to the Investment Adviser is paid by the Investment Manager, and, accordingly that the retention of the Investment Adviser does not increase the fees or expenses otherwise incurred by the Fund’s shareholders. The Board also considered information about the Investment Adviser’s fees, including the amount of the management fees retained by the Investment Manager after payment of the advisory fees. The Board also received information from management regarding the fees charged by the Advisers to other U.S. clients investing primarily in an asset class similar to that of the Fund. The Board considered the fee comparisons in light of the differences in resources and costs required to manage the different types of accounts.

The Board also took into account management’s discussion of the Fund’s expenses, including the factors that impacted the Fund’s expenses.

Economies of Scale. The Board took into account management’s discussion of the Fund’s management fee structure. The Board determined that the management fee structure was reasonable. This determination was based on various factors, including that the Fund’s management agreement provides breakpoints at higher asset levels and how the Fund’s management fee compares to its Peer Group at higher asset levels.

The Directors also considered other factors, which included but were not limited to the following:

* * *

Based on their evaluation of all factors that they deemed to be material, including those factors described above, and assisted by the advice of independent counsel, the Directors, including the Independent Directors, concluded that renewal of the Advisory Agreements would be in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders. Accordingly, the Board, including the Board’s Independent Directors voting separately, approved the Fund’s Advisory Agreements for an additional one-year period.

Directors

Neville J. Miles, Chairman

P. Gerald Malone

William J. Potter

Peter D. Sacks

Moritz Sell

John T. Sheehy

Hugh Young

Officers

Christian Pittard, President

Jeffrey Cotton, Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President, Compliance

Joseph Andolina. Vice President – Compliance

Megan Kennedy, Vice President and Secretary

Andrea Melia, Treasurer and Principal Accounting Officer

Mark Daniels, Vice President

Martin J. Gilbert, Vice President

Alan Goodson, Vice President

Bev Hendry, Vice President

Jason Kururangi, Vice President

Marco Lo Blanco, Vice President

Jennifer Nichols, Vice President

Robert Penaloza, Vice President

Lucia Sitar, Vice President

Sharon Ferrari, Assistant Treasurer

Matthew Keener, Assistant Secretary

Investment Manager

Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited

21 Church Street

#01-01 Capital Square Two

Singapore 049480

Investment Adviser

Aberdeen Asset Management Limited

Level 10 255 George Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Administrator

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Custodian

State Street Bank and Trust Company

1 Heritage Drive, 3rd Floor

North Quincy, MA 02171

Transfer Agent

Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

P.O. Box 30170

College Station, TX 77842

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

KPMG LLP

1601 Market Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Legal Counsel

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

787 Seventh Ave

New York, NY 10019

Investor Relations

Aberdeen Asset Management Inc.

1735 Market Street, 32nd Floor

Philadelphia, PA 19103

1-800-522-5465

InvestorRelations@aberdeenstandard.com