This 'Memorandum of Recommendations' was forwarded by the Premier of Victoria to all Australian governments, and to the Agent-General in London who circulated likely sources throughout Europe. However, while immediate offers of assistance were received from shipping and exploring interests overseas, no immediate action resulted.

The preliminary meeting held in Sydney on 10 November 1886 for the founding of an Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1888 was attended by Mr Hunt of the Royal Mint, Sydney, a country member, on behalf of the Society. The April 1888 meeting of the Royal Society announced the establishment of this Association, and pointed out the desirability of co-operation between the States in successfully launching in August 1888 the Australasian equivalent of the famous British Association for the Advancement of Science. The delegates from the Society to this first meeting were Professor Kernot (president), Professor Baldwin Spencer and Mr R. L. J. Ellery.

In June 1887, one of the smaller societies which had formed in Victoria some years earlier, the Microscopical Society of Victoria, offered to amalgamate with the Royal Society, and to form Section D, for the study of the microscope and its applications. This offer was accepted by the council and the opinion was expressed that it would be advantageous for other societies to follow suit. At the July meeting of that year, 41 members of the Microscopical Society were admitted as members of the Royal Society and five as honorary members.

Royal Society of Victoria