Twenty-nine isolates of an unknown haemophilic organism were isolated from the lungs of pigs from 14 farms in Australia. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene, recN and rpoA showed a monophyletic group that was most closely related to Glaesserella parasuis and [ Actinobacillus ] indolicus. Whole genome sequence analysis indicated that the Glaesserella parasuis and this group, using the type strain HS4635^T for comparison, showed a similarity of 30.9 % DNA–DNA renaturation. The isolates were Gram-stain-negative, NAD-dependent, CAMP-negative and were oxidase-positive, catalase-negative and produced indole but not urease. The isolates could be separated from all currently recognized haemophilic and non-haemophilic members of the family Pastuerellaceae. Key phenotypic properties were the production of indole, the lack of urease activity, production of β-galactosidase but not α-fucosidase, acid formation from (−)-d-arabinose, (+)-d-galactose, maltose and trehalose and a failure to produce acid from (−)-d-mannitol. Taken together, these data indicate that the isolates belong to a novel species for which the name Glaesserella australis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HS4635^T (=CCUG 71931^T and LMG 30645^T).