Royal Society of Victoria 1854-1959
Introduction
Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science
Philosophical Society of Victoria
Philosophical Institute of Victoria
Royal Society of Victoria
Acknowledgements
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Read 12 November 1959
Introduction
MELBOURNE! 1854! Such was the setting for the foundation of something new in the scientific life of the recently formed but rapidly developing colony. The seeds that were sown then were to grow from year to year until finally a society was to develop which was to reflect throughout the world the scientific life and thought of the State of Victoria.
In order to fully appreciate the significance of events that took place at that time, it is desirable to have some appreciation of the conditions that existed in Melbourne in and immediately prior to 1854.
It was only 19 years since John Batman, a founder of Melbourne, had sailed from Tasmania to Port Phillip Bay, and in June 1835 located the Yarra River, making his famous diary entry—'This will be the place for a village'. It was only 17 years since the first Crown Land sale was held in Melbourne, and only 16 years since the first newspaper, the Melbourne Advertiser, had been published by John Pascoe Fawkner.
People in Bright Sparcs - Batman, John; Fawkner, John Pascoe
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