Our History

The Original Geographical Society of Australasia, Victorian Branch


Peter Hogan – Geography Victoria member


 
The Victorian branch of the Geographical Society of Australia was formed in 1883. It got permission to add Royal to the title in 1886.

From 1883 to 1918 it published Transactions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australia (Victorian Branch) The 34-volume set is held in the Royal Society of Victoria library. (Copies are also in the SLV and the RHSV) The last volume, Vol 34 1918, has an index listed by Subject, Author and Obituaries.

Each volume has The Objects of the Society, a list of members, activities of members of the Society, transcripts of talks given at meetings and obituaries.  Many papers included maps.
The President of the Society from 1885 to 1894 was the distinguished botanist, Baron von Mueller. (There is no evidence von Mueller was a Baron but publications at the time referred to him as Baron von Mueller.)
 
The Objects of the Society were:

  1. SCIENTIFIC: The advancement of Geographical Science, the study of Physical Geography, and the Exploration of Australasia and the Islands and Seas adjacent thereto (including the Antarctic Regions); to obtain information on their physical features, their fauna, flora, mineral resources, geological formation, &c.
  2. COMMERCIAL: The study of Commercial Geography, the Natural and Artificial Products of the various Countries, Trading Routes, Markets, Means of Communication, &c.
  3. EDUCATIONAL: The dissemination of the knowledge of Physical, Commercial, and Political Geography among all classes, by means of lectures and publications illustrated by maps, sketches, photographic views, &c.
  4. HISTORICAL: The collection and publication of Historical Records of Geographical Interest, and the Memoirs of distinguished Travellers, Explorers, and Geographers, and the compilation from reliable data of all facts bearing upon the Geography of Australasia.

 
Some articles of interest include:

  • Notes on the Aborigines of Australia by John F Mann. Vol I, p. 27
    • It included descriptions of how Aborigines climbed tall smooth barked trees; how they lit fires and how they made canoes.
  • Journal of Discovery to Port Phillip NSW 1824 & 1825. Vol XI 
    • A reprint of an illustrated talk given in Melbourne by William Hovell in 1859. 
  • Fire Ordeal, Bega, Fiji by J. W. Lindt, F.R.G.S.  Vol 11, p 45  
    • An illustrated description of how the Fijian men performed the fire walking ceremony.

Further Articles on Our History