With the centenary of the Royal Society approaching, it was agreed to publish a special centenary volume, which would be partly historical and the remainder papers. An approach to the government for special funds for this purpose was not successful, but their annual grant was raised to £500 at this time.

The work of the new building progressed so rapidly that arrangements were made for the official opening of the new block on 25 August 1954 by His Excellency the Governor of Victoria, Sir Dallas Brooks. Prior to this opening, an agreement concerning the grounds was made which ended all the previous worries concerning this part of the property where outbreaks of fire had occurred during the summer months. The agreement was made with the Melbourne City Council whereby, in consideration of the Royal College putting the grounds in order and installing an adequate watering system, the Parks and Gardens department of the City Council would take them over and maintain them free of charge.

The visit to Melbourne of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh at the time of the Olympic Games was made the occasion, on 3 December 1956, for a symposium at the Royal Society on the subject 'Australia's part in the geophysical year in the Antarctic'. His visit to the Society in 1956 recalled the previous visit of an earlier Duke of Edinburgh to the Society in 1867. At this symposium, His Royal Highness officially opened the proceedings with an address on the importance of the Antarctic continent. Other addresses were delivered by Sir Marcus Oliphant, president of the Australian Academy of Science; Sir Douglas Mawson, 'Australian Links with Antarctica'; Mr P. G. Law, 'Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition'; and Dr D. F. Martyn, 'Australia and the International Geophysical Year'; and the whole of the proceedings published in the form of a special symposium volume. On the same occasion, His Royal Highness conducted an investiture in the Society's hall at which 23 polar medals were conferred.

Royal Society of Victoria