Royal Society of South Australia
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History

The Royal Society of SA can be traced back to 1834 when the South Australian Literary and Scientific Association was formed in Adelphi Chambers, London. Amongst the members present were men such as Gouger, Hanson, Giles, Wakefield, Morphett, Torrens, and Hindmarsh. A library chest of books destined for the SA Literary and Scientific Association eventually arrived in South Australia, but meetings of the Association soon ceased. These books formed the basis of what was eventually to become the State Library.

On 10th Jan 1853, the Philosophical Society of Adelaide was founded for "the diffusion and advancement of the Arts and Sciences". One of the early matters discussed was the formation of a Museum to illustrate the natural history of the Colony. By1859 the Philosophical Society was incorporated under the SA Institute Act. However it foundered to some extent until the establishment of the University of Adelaide, which apparently revitalised the Society.

In 1880, the Philosophical Society received royal patronage and became the Royal Society of SA. At the same time, its journal became the Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia. In 2004, the South Australian Museum and the Royal Society of South Australia became partners in Southern Scientific Press. This led to the amalgamation of their two professional journals. The Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia now incorporates the Records of the South Australian Museum.

Royal Society of South Australia Presidents


1853-54 - H.E.F. Young

1855 - B.H. Babbage

1856-61 - R.G. MacDonnell

1862-68 - D. Daly

1869-72 - J. Ferguson

1873-76 - A. Musgrave

1877 - W.F.D. Jervois

1878-79 - R. Tate

1880-81 - S.J. Way

1882 - C. Todd

1883 - H. J. Whittell

1884 - H. Lamb

1885 - H.C. Mais

1886-88 - E.H. Rennie

1889 - E.C. Stirling

1890-91 - T. Blackburn

1892-94 - R. Tate

1895-96 - W. Howchin

1897-99 - W.L. Cleland

1900-02 - E.H. Rennie

1903-20 - J.C. Verco

1921 - R.S. Rogers

1922-24 - R.H. Pulleine

1925 - D. Mawson

1926 - T.G.B. Osborn

1927 - F. Wood Jones

1928 - J.B. Cleland

1929-30 - L.K. Ward

1931 - C.A.E. Fenner

1932 - T. Harvey Johnston

1933 - J.A. Prescott

1934 - J.M. Black

1935 - T.D. Campbell

1936 - C.T. Madigan

1937 - H.M. Hale

1938 - J. Davidson

1939 - H.K. Fry

1940 - R.W. Segnit

1941 - J.B. Cleland

1942 - J.G. Wood

1943 - W. Ternent Cooke

1944 - H. Womersley

1945 - D. Mawson

1946 - C.S. Piper

1947 - H.C. Trumble

1948 - D.C. Swan

1949 - N.B. Tindale

1950 - A.W. Kleeman

1951 - B.C. Cotton

1952 - H.G. Andrewartha

1953 - S.B. Dickinson

1954 - J.K. Taylor

1955 - R.V. Southcott

1956 - C.G. Stephens

1957 - I.M. Thomas

1958 - L.W. Parkin

1959-60 - T.R.N. Lothian

1961 - R.V. Southcott

1962 - N.H. Ludbrook

1963 - J.T. Hutton

1964 - A.R. Alderman

1965 - S.J. Edmonds
1966 - B. Daily

1967 - H.B.S. Womersley

1968 - K.R. Miles

1969 - F.J. Mitchell

1970 - C.B. Wells

1971 - W.G. Inglis

1972 - H. Wopfner

1973 - K.E. Lee

1974 - G.F. Gross

1975 - J.W. Holmes

1976 - C.R. Twidale

1977 - B.P. Webb

1978 - J.J.H. Szent-Ivany

1979 - J.K. Ling

1980 - S.A. Shepherd

1981 - C.W. Bonython

1982-83 - D.W.P. Corbett

1984 - J.S. Womersley

1985-86 - M.J. Tyler

1987 - T.D. Scott

1988-89 - G.M.E. Mayo

1990-92 - N.A. Locket

1992-94 - W.D. Williams

1994-96 - M. Davies

1996-98 - T.C.R. White

1998-2000 - M.A.J. Williams

2000-02 - N.F. Alley

2002-04 - O.W. Wiebkin

2004-06 - R.W. Fitzpatrick

2006-08 - A. Pring

2008-10 - J.T. Jennings
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