4
The Act of Incorporation of the University of Melbourne became law on the 22nd of January, 1853, and the Council were appointed almost immediately after. On the 3rd of July, 1854, the first stone of the original University buildings, now, unhappily, in premature ruin, was laid by the just-arrived Governor, Sir Charles Hotham. On the 13th of April, 1855, the University was formally opened by the Chancellor, Mr. Justice Barry, there being present sixteen students and four professors, and the place was the old Exhibition Building, now, and for some time, a thing of the past, the site being occupied by the Mint. For several months after the opening, the lectures were delivered in the Exhibition Building.
Although the Act of Incorporation provided for the granting of medical degrees, there was no mention made of medical teaching, and, in fact, although a Medical School was sometimes spoken of, it was generally regarded as something altogether anticipatory, and not, for many years, to be seriously thought of. But in that same year, viz. 1855, Dr. Brownless was appointed a member of the Council, and, from the day of his first attendance at its meetings, he resolved there should be a Medical School, and he never wavered in his determination to carry out this project. He, therefore, is the actual founder of the School. As a matter of course, he was met with great opposition, and there were not wanting those who ungraciously explained his enthusiasm, by attributing to him unworthy motives. But he was not a man to be deterred from a good purpose, either by argument or abuse; and so he went steadily on, maturing his scheme, which, in 1857, he presented formally to the Council; but it was five years later before it grew into a veritable embodiment. In the mean time, two gentlemen, who were entirely with Dr. Brownless in the belief that a Medical School was an integral part of the University, had made an informal beginning. These were Dr. Eades and Dr. Macadam, who lectured in the laboratory of the latter, behind the Public Library, severally on Materia Medica and Chemistry. On the 10th of December, 1861, Dr. Brownless, who in 1858 had been elected Vice-Chancellor, an office he has ever since most worthily filled,[1] succeeded in inducing the Council to pass the regulations
- ↑ Since this address was delivered, Dr. Brownless has been chosen Chancellor, an honour he has thoroughly earned.
