The Philosophical Institute of Victoria was a scientific institute functioned in

Victoria, Australia Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in Au ...

during 19th century. It was founded in 1854 through the amalgamation of the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science and the Philosophical Society of Victoria. The first meeting of the newly amalgamated group was held on 10 July 1855 at the Museum of Natural History, chaired by a representative of the Victorian Institute, Dr J. Maund. According to the amalgamation statement, 'the objects of the Philosophical Institute shall be the same as that of the Philosophical Society, and that the mode of operation of the new Institute shall be the same as that of the old Society'. The inaugural president was the Victorian Surveyor General Captain Andrew Clark. Papers read at the first meeting included: * 'On the physical character of the County of Heytesbury'. By Robert Scott. * 'On the favourable geological and chemical nature of the principal rocks and soils of Victoria, in reference to the production of ordinary cereals and wine.' By

Clement Hodgkinson Clement Hodgkinson (1818 – 5 September 1893) was a notable English naturalist, explorer and surveyor of Australia. He was Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Crown Lands and Survey from 1861 to 1874. Exploration in New South Wales Qualified ...

. * A meteorological table of the climatology for June of that year was also presented, while large numbers of natural history specimens, some new to science, were also exhibited. In 1857 the Philosophical Institute formed an ''Exploration Committee'' with the aim of investigating the practicability of fitting out an exploring expedition. A number of prominent Victorian scientists and engineers including

Redmond Barry Sir Redmond Barry, (7 June 181323 November 1880), was a colonial judge in Victoria, Australia of Anglo-Irish origins. Barry was the inaugural Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, serving from 1853 until his death in 1880. He is arguably ...

and

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vict ...

. The Institute became the

Royal Society of Victoria The Royal Society of Victoria (RSV) is the oldest scientific society in the state of Victoria in Australia. Foundation In 1854 two organisations formed with similar aims and membership, these being ''The Philosophical Society of Victoria'' (fou ...

after receiving a Royal Charter in 1859.

Office Bearers

Office Bearers of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria Burke & Wills Web : the digital research archive
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External links

* http://www.burkeandwills.net.au/Royal_Society/Philosophical_Institute_of_Victoria.htm

References

{{authority control 1854 establishments in Australia Organizations established in 1854 Organisations based in Victoria (Australia) Scientific societies based in Australia

Office Bearers

See also

External links

References