School of Chemistry (1886 - )

The first lectures in chemistry in the University of Melbourne were presented in 1856 by the professor of Natural Science, Professor Frederick McCoy. The establishment of the Department of Chemistry as a recognized entity within the University coincided with the appointment of Professor David Orme Masson. In the 1960s the School of Chemistry was established with the formal recognition of the separate academic departments of Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry.

• Department of Chemistry (Parallel)

In 2001, the School of Chemistry has collaborations with the Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pathology, Dental Science and with medical research units including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, The Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre and the Royal Melbourne Hospital, as well as industry groups. Research groups and laboratories include the Atomic Force Microscopy Laboratory, Best Group, Bieske Laser Spectroscopy Group, Capon Group, Lambert Group, Nanoparticle Laboratory, Particulate Fluids Processing Centre, PhotoPhysics Group, Rizzacasa Group, Schiesser Group, Separovic Group, White Group, Young Group

Events

1880s	A new building with labs, or at least part of a building is erected in the late 1880s soon after Professor Masson is appointed.
1936	Chemistry building grant of £80,000
June 1936	Vice Chancellor Priestley leads a deputation to Premier Dunstan regarding the new Chemistry School and the restoration of a 20% cut in funding.
19 May 1938	Foundation stone of building to house the Chemistry department is laid. A Raymond Priestly initiative, and the first time the Government had spent a significant amount on the University for decades, most of the interior was designed by Professor Hartung.
1940	New Chemistry Building is opened to students
1961 - 1963	Money is provided for a Chemistry-Geology link
5 May 1989	The Committee of Review of the School of Chemistry decides that a fourth chair of chemistry be created, titled the Masson Professor of Chemistry. This role would include Headship of the School for a period of 5 years upon arrival in the first instance.
2000	The School is a core participant in Bio'21, a $400 million initiative of the Victorian Government, universities, hospitals, biomedical institutes and industry to establish Australia's largest interdisciplinary biotechnology precinct.

Bequests (Scholarships, Fellowships, Lectureships & Prizes)

• Grimwade Prize, Faculty of Science (1906 - )
• Lady Masson Memorial Lectureship (1946 - )

  [1946 - 1994?]

• Norman Thomas Mortimer Wilsmore Research Fund, The, Faculty of Science (1945 - )
• Selby Research Award, Faculty of Science (1997 - )

Faculty

• Faculty of Medicine, The University of Melbourne (1876 - )

  [1882 - 1903]

• Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne (1903 - )

  [1903 - ]

Heads of Department

• Anderson, John Stuart (1908 - 1990)

  [1954 - 1959]

• Ghiggino, Kenneth Philip

  [1997 - ]

• Solomon, David Henry (1929 - )

  [1990 - 1994]

• Watts, Robert Oliver

  [1995 - 1996]

• Wedd, Anthony Gordon

  [1995]

Personal Chairs

• Larkins, Francis Patrick

  Professor of Chemistry & Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)

  [1994 - ]

• Wedd, Anthony Gordon

  Professor of Chemistry

  [1996 - ]

Professorial Chairs

• Chair of Chemistry, Masson, Faculty of Science (1989 - )

  [1989 - ]

• Chair of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Science (1962 - 1994)

  [1962 - 1994]

• Chair of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Science (1952 - )

  [1952 - ]

• Chair of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Science (1960 - 1998)

  [1960 - 1998]

Research Centres (Collaborative)

• Advanced Minerals Products Research Centre (AMPC), The University of Melbourne (1991 - 1999)

  [1991 - 1999]

• Particulate Fluids Processing Centre, The University of Melbourne (2000 - )

  [2000 - ]

Related Units

• Optical Munitions Panel (1940 - 1945)

  [1940 - 1945]