University of Melbourne Medical School jubilee 1914.

  • University of Melbourne. Medical School
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: University of Melbourne Medical School jubilee 1914. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    4 students were then matriculated without examination, in order that classes might at once be possible. Lectures commenced in the same place three days later, but the University buildings were not opened till the following October. So, in the proud humility of our motto, Postera Crescam LaiicLe, the little band of four Professors—Wilson, Hearn, McCoy and Irving—essayed to give actuality and living force to the new University. Nearly two years earlier, in December 1852, the year following that in which gold was discovered in Victoria, Dr. Anthony Colling Brownless came to the Colony and settled in Melbourne, He had been a distin- guished student of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, and obtained the diploma of M.R.C.S. in 1841. Subsequently he pursued his studies for five years, partly in his old Hospital where he served as dresser for two years, and partly in the University of Liege - and in 1846 he graduated as M.D., St. Andrew’s, and commenced practice in London, becoming Phy- sician to the Metropolitan Dispensary and to the Royal General Dispen- sary, and for a time “Teacher of Practical Midwifery” in St. Bartholomew’s. Soon after his arrival in Melbourne he was elected Physician to the Benevolent Asylum, and in 1854 to the Melbourne Hospital, where he continued in active service for twelve years, before his retirement with the rank of Consulting Physician. On the 16th June, 1855, Dr. Brownless was gazetted a member of the University Council, and at once devoted his energies to obtain the establishment of a Medical School. The Chancellor was as zealous to create a School of Law ; and on his motion the Council in December, 1856, affirmed its desire that lectures on Law and Medicine be delivered in the ensuing year. The Chancellor and Dr. Brownless were requested to draft the details. Within a month a scheme for the institution of a Faculty of Medicine was submitted by Dr. Brownless, providing for a Professor of Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, a Professor of Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Dietetics, and a staff of lecturers. Sufficient funds were not available, so Dr. Brownless advised delay, and on behalf of the Council he and Dr. Godfrey Howitt waited on the Chief Secretary, and asked for a sum not exceeding £21,000 for the erection and equipment of the necessary buildings. The Chief Secretary was at first sympathetic, but finally replied that the members of Govern- ment concurred in opinion that the time had not arrived for initiating the project of a Medical School. At this stage, Mr. Childers, now Minister of Trade and Customs (and subsequently, in 1857, the first Agent-General) entered as Vice-Chancellor into a lengthy correspon- dence with Professor Paget (afterwards Sir James Paget, Bart), who
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