Victorian Institute of Engineers (1883 - 1949)

Summary

The Institute was formed as the Victorian Engineers' Association on 26 July 1883, following an initiative of the Chief Secretary, Colony of Victoria, as an association "in which the civil, mechanical, mining, sanitary, electric, and every other branch of engineering would be represented". The main object of the association was "the promotion of an entente cordiale between the different branches and members of the profession, and its advancement generally." And it was hoped that the association would organise "a series of scientific conversaziones, at the Exhibition building", and assist the Exhibition Trustees.

The name was altered to The Victorian Institute of Engineers in August 1889.

On 15 December 1948, at its Annual Dinner, the Victorian Institute of Engineers announced that representatives of its Council, and Melbourne Division of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, had agreed to terms of amalgamation. The Institute was "wound up voluntarily" at a meeting on 25 August 1949, to "facilitate the merger of the Victorian Institute of Engineers with the Institution of Engineers, Australia.

Related entries

Timeline

 1883 - 1949 Victorian Institute of Engineers
       1919 - Institution of Engineers, Australia

Archival resources

State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection

• Records, ca. 1883-1980. [manuscript], c. 1883 - 1980, YMS 11170; Institution of Engineers, Australia. Victoria Division.; State Library of Victoria, Australian Manuscripts Collection. Details

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Institution of Engineers Australia. Melbourne Division, 'Annual General Meeting Notice and Annual Report 1948-49', Division Notes (1949). 'Victorian Institute of Engineers proposed amalgamation', p.24. Details
• Institution of Engineers Australia. Melbourne Division, 'Annual General Meeting Notice and Annual Report 1949-50', Division Notes (1950). 'Victorian Institute of Engineers amalgamation with the Institution of Engineers, Australia', p.23. Details
• Institution of Engineers Australia. Melbourne Division, 'Annual General Meeting Notice and Annual Report 1950-51', Division Notes (1951). 'Victorian Institute of Engineers amalgamation with the Institution of Engineers, Australia', p.27. Details

Reports

• Institution of Engineers Australia, Thirtieth Annual Report [1949] (1949), 16 pp. 'A milestone in the history of Australian engineering societies was reached this year when the Victorian Institute of Engineers, that was founded in 1883, realised that because of a falling membership it was no longer able to carry on as a separate entity. Schemes for amalgamation with The Institution were discussed and eventually, the Institute decided to go into voluntary liquidation. The assets of the Institute have been made over to The Institution and those members of the Institute who are eligible are being admitted to The Imtitution without payment of an entrance fee. Those who are ineligible for membership of The Institution are to be granted certain privileges such as the right to attend meetings and to receive publications but will not be Members of The Institution. As the members of the Victorian Institute of Engineers were predominantly mechanical engineers, a Mechanical Branch has been formed in the Melbourne Division to cater for their needs as well as for mechanical engineers who were already members of the Division. The former Secretary of the Institute has accepted the Honorary Secretaryship of the new Branch, and as the meetings will be conducted in the Institute's old meeting place, the members of the Institute in becoming members of The Institution will bring with them and maintain for a long period the traditions and prestige acquired by the Institute during its long history', p.1. Details

Resources

• McInnes, Ken, Institution of Engineers Australia - Foundation Societies' Publications Index, eScholarship Research Centre, Melbourne, 2018. Details
• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1473290. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Victorian Institute of Engineers', in University of Melbourne Digitised Collections, https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/handle/11343/104. Details
• Engineering Heritage Branch, Institution of Engineers Australia, 'Engineers, Victorian Institute of Engineers', in Engineering Heritage Victoria, 2001, https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20080917150623/http://home.vicnet.net.au/~engherit/vie_presidents.htm. Details

See also

• Institution of Engineers Australia, 'Historical account of the formation of the Institution of Engineers, Australia.', Transactions of the Institution of Engineers Australia, 1 (1921), 28-46, https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.628107070347674. Details