Person
Learmonth, Noel Fulford (1880 - 1970)
- Born
- 22 February 1880
Tyrendarra, Victoria, Australia - Died
- 9 September 1970
Portland, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Historian, Naturalist, Ornithologist and Sheep farmer
Summary
Noel Learmonth was a sheep farmer for 40 years before retiring with his wife Edith to Portland, Victoria, in 1951. He was a knowledgeable naturalist and ornithologist, especially of the Portland area, and always willing to share that knowledge. Birds were his special interest, particularly seabirds. He was a prolific contributor to local newspapers and magazines (including The bulletin) on natural history subjects under the pen name "Leo". Frequently he reported on the activities of the Portland Field Naturalists Club, of which he was a foundation member, in The Portland guardian. He was also a regular contributor to the journals Emu and Victorian naturalist. Learmonth was often in the field with Edith, and with Cliff and Hilda Beauglehole, fellow members of the Portland Field Naturalists Club. His activities in the Society included a key role in proclamation of Lower Glenelg National Park. He also served on the Board of Management of Mt Richmond National Park. Learmonth was equally knowledgeable on the history of Portland. His published works in this field earned him Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria.
Details
Chronology
- 1899 - 1902
- Career position - Member, survey team, Victorian Railways
- 1902 - 1903
- Career position - Private secretary to Commissioner for Crown Lands, M. K. Mckenzie
- c. 1904 - 1911
- Career position - Farmer near Gayndah, Queensland
- 1919 - 1951
- Career position - Sheep farmer, Tyrendarra, Victoria
- 1945 - 1970
- Career position - Foundation Member, Portland Field Naturalists Club
- 1948 - 1970
- Career position - Member , Royal Australasian Ornithological Union
- 1951
- Life event - Retired to Portland
- 1961 - 1962
- Career position - Vice-President, Royal Australasian Ornithological Union
- 1962 - 1970
- Award - Fellow, Royal Historical Society of Victoria
Related entries
Colleague
Published resources
Books
- Learmonth, Noel F., The Portland Bay settlement: being the history of Portland, Victoria, from 1800 to 1851 Historical Committee of Portland (Portland, Vic.: Historical Committee of Portland, 1934), 285 pp. Details
- Learmonth, Noel F., The birds of Portland (Victoria) district (Portland (Vic.): Portland Field Naturalist Club, 1967), 30 pp. Details
Book Sections
- Strauss, Jennifer, 'Learmonth, Noel Fulford (1880-1970), farmer, naturalist and local historian' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 15: 1940 - 1980 Kem-Pie, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2000), pp. 71-72. https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/learmonth-noel-fulford-10802. Details
Journal Articles
- Brown, P. L., 'Noel Fulford Learmonth, F.R.H.S.V.: an appreciation', Victorian historical magazine, 43 (4) (1972), 955-8. Details
- Davies, Fred, 'A tribute to Noel F. Learmonth', Victorian naturalist, 88 (2), 39-40. Details
- I.M.W. [ie Watson, Ina], 'Noel Fulford Learmonth', Emu, 71 (2) (1971), 88-9, https://doi.org/10.1071/MU971088b. Details
Helen Cohn
Created: 14 May 2026