History of the School
In 2011 the Melbourne School of Engineering celebrates 150 years of engineering education. We are the oldest engineering faculty in Australia, and have come a long way from out modest beginnings in 1861 with 15 students enrolled. Today, we are a vibrant engineering community, drawn from over 100 countries, with a network of alumni nearly 25,000 strong.
There have been many changes over the past 150 years. From professors entering classrooms through windows, lectures being set up outside due to lack of space, the advent of the two World Wars (including an engineering workshop being overtaken by the Department of Munitions) and the School’s role in the dot.com boom, the School’s history is rich and revealing.
We invite you to explore these 150 years and find out for yourself the trials, tribulations and astonishing achievements that make the Melbourne School of Engineering what it is today: #1 in Australia for engineering education.
Timeline
Oral Histories
As part of our 150th program, the Melbourne School of Engineering was lucky enough to interview some of our most prominent alumni whose lives span the decades of the School’s history and could give us a first-hand account of what life was like studying Engineering in their era.
- Sir Archibald Glenn
- Peter Joubert
- Rasmussen, C. (2004).Increasing Momentum: Engineering at the University of Melbourne 1861-2004. Carlton, Melbourne University Press.
- Selleck, R. J. W (2003). The shop : the University of Melbourne 1850-1939. Carlton: Melbourne University Press.
- Glenn, J. R. A. (1991). Things to be Remembered. Carlton: Diane Gribble.
- ‘McInnes, Graham Campbell (1912 - 1970)’ Australian Dictionary of Biography Online Edition http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A150267b.htm Modified: Tuesday, 19 October 2010 3:27:05 PM Accessed: 7th October 2010.
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_melbourne
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Melbourne_history
- http://museumvictoria.com.au/marvellous/
As one of the oldest living alumni of the Melbourne School of Engineering, a Knight of the Realm (of the Order of the British Empire), and an engineering power-broker at ICI/Orica for over 26 years, Sir Archibald Glenn is a well-known Australian figure, and a proud alumnus of the Melbourne School of Engineering.
Key advocate for mandatory seat belts, distinguished fluid mechanics researcher and leading figure within the Australian yachting community, Emeritus Professor Peter Joubert reflects on his career. He spoke with Professor Len Stevens, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1980-87, 150th Anniversary Manager Khandis Marinko and Carolyn Rassmussen, author of Increasing Momentum.
Further Reading & Acknowledgements
The Melbourne School of Engineering graciously thanks Carolyn Rasmussen for her publicationIncreasing Momentum: Engineering at the University of Melbourne 1861-2004. Most of the information from this historical overview was sourced from this text.
For further resources, please see:
Useful Online Resources Include:
