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History of the Society
Foundation and link to The Royal Society
On foundation, the Royal Society of Victoria was modelled on the Royal Society of London, the world’s oldest research institution under the Western tradition of scientific inquiry, founded in 1660. We began our journey in 1854, four years after the founding of the Colony of Victoria.
From the outset our purpose has been to share ‘scientific intelligence,’ promoting the understanding and application of scientific knowledge for the benefit of the community. So for instance, the museum; water supply, stormwater and sewerage systems; crematorium, etc. for Melbourne were all planned here at the Royal Society of Victoria, drawing on the scientific expertise resident in Victoria and the global community of scholars through an extensive journal exchange program that predated the convenience of the internet.
The Philsophical Society of Victoria
In fact two very similar organisations were founded in 1854: the Philosophical Society of Victoria, led by the Surveyor-General of the Colony, Captain Andrew Clarke and the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science whose first president was Sir Redmond Barry, [also the founding Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, founder of the Melbourne Public Library (now the State Library of Victoria), the Melbourne Public Gallery (now the National Gallery of Victoria) and the Museum of Natural History (Museums Victoria) – what a legacy!] and famously the judge who later tried and condemned Ned Kelly. Recognising the duplication of purpose and effort, the two societies sensibly merged in 1855 to form the Philosophical Institute of Victoria. Late in 1859 royal assent was granted for a name change to the Royal Society of Victoria, in time for the rebranded institution to occupy our freshly constructed building at its current site opposite the Carlton Gardens, at the very corner of the City of Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid.
The building of RSV Hall at 8 LaTrobe Street
We are fortunate to be one of the few learned societies in Australia with its own building, built with funds raised by our earliest members on land reserved for our use and later formalised through a Crown Grant in 1883. The building was designed by renowned Melbourne architect Joseph Reed and built in 1859 specifically for the Royal Society of Victoria. It is the focal point for our activities; our place to meet, our place to learn, and our place to debate contemporary scientific and cultural issues. It is a symbol of the importance of science and technology in our lives and of the Royal Society of Victoria’s continuing role in the promotion of science and scientific endeavour.
Into the 21st Century
The Society recognises and encourages scientific research of the highest calibre through its awards program, recognising scientists across the career spectrum from PhD candidature through to lifetime research achievements. We appoint Fellows based on their capacity to improve society through their knowledge base. The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria is one of the oldest Australian scientific journals, having been published continuously in various forms since 1855. We engage people of all ages and backgrounds across Victoria in the scientific process through management of the Inspiring Victoria program, a partnership initiative with the State’s leading public knowledge institutions and networks, which includes the annual delivery of National Science Week.
Our Future Role
The RSV has exciting plans to become Victoria's science and technology hub. This hub is increasingly online, but we have exciting plans for our central Melbourne location which sits physically at a point of connection between campuses of the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, The Unesco World Heritage Area, Parkville Health Precinct, East Melbourne Health Precinct, Cremorne Digital and Data Precinct and the CBD financial precinct.
A more detailed history of the RSV can be downloaded here.
History of RSV Hall
Drawing on funds raised by members, the present two storey, brick structure was erected in several stages, beginning with the original, red brick Meeting Hall, which was completed in 1859. Designed (pro-bono) by renowned Melbourne architect Joseph Reed (who also designed such buildings as the State Library, the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne Town Hall, Trades Hall, Scots Church etc), the building was officially opened by the Victorian governor, Sir Henry Barkly, who was the Society’s President on December 10, 1859.
Originally a two storey, vaulted Meeting Hall, remodelling in 1867-1869 saw internal structures and partitions added to create a separate second floor with the Cudmore Library and Ellery Lecture Theatre upstairs and the Burke and Wills, Phillip Law and Nancy Millis Rooms downstairs. The rendering of the exterior was completed in 1880.
A strategic alliance with what became the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) permitted an extension on the south side in 1954 – the Arthur Wilson Memorial Wing, named for a member and benefactor of the College – to create the overall cube-shaped building visitors see today. The creation of this new wing produced the Von Mueller Room and office spaces upstairs, and the current Royal Society Office and kitchen facilities downstairs. RANZCOG have since moved to a new, purpose-built facility, and these rooms are now variously utilised by the Society’s members, tenants and clients.
We are fortunate to be one of the few learned societies in Australia with its own building, built specifically for the Royal Society of Victoria. It has been of great value as a cultural focal point for our activities; it is our place to meet, our place to learn, and our place to debate contemporary scientific and cultural issues. It is a symbol of the importance of science and technology in our lives and of the Royal Society of Victoria’s continuing role in the promotion of science and scientific endeavour for the benefit of all Victorians.
