Chemistry
When surgeons Dennis Considen and John White of the First Fleet distilled eucalyptus oil in 1788 to treat their sick shipmates, they were the first European explorers to recognise the medicinal and antiseptic properties of the oil from the eucalyptus leaves. Eucalyptus distilling as an industry began in earnest when botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller and pharmacist John Bosisto established a distillery in the Dandenongs, Victoria, in 1854. The industry grew from the mid-nineteenth century to maturity by the turn of the century. Given the 'Australianness' of the product, it is ironic that the industry has increasingly been supplanted by overseas production (Pearson, M., 1993).
This list includes chemists, pharmacists and botanists, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical organisations with a significant role in the discovery and economic uses of eucalyptus oil in Australia.
Source
- Pearson, Michael, 'The good oil: eucalyptus oil distilleries in Australia.', Australasian Historical Archaeology, vol. 11, 1993, pp. 99-107. Details
Clicking on links in the list below will take you to the relevant entry in the Encyclopedia of Australian Science
B
- Bailey, Frederick Manson (1827 - 1915) - Botanical collector, Botanist, Horticulturist
- Baker, Richard Thomas (1854 - 1941) - Botanist, Museum curator
- Bancroft, Thomas Lane (1860 - 1933) - Physician, Taxonomist, Naturalist
- Barton, Allan Francis Murray - Chemist
- Benjamin, Louis Reginald Samuel (1892 - 1970) - Industrial chemist, Technologist
- Boas, Isaac Herbert (1878 - 1955) - Chemist
- Bosisto, Joseph (1824 - 1898) - Chemist, Pharmacist
C
- Clarke, William Branwhite (1798 - 1878) - Geologist, Minister of religion
- Cloez, Francois Stanislas (1817 - 1883) - Chemist
- Clunies Ross, William John (1850 - 1914) - Science educator
- Considen, Denis (c. 1760 - 1815) - Natural history collector, Surgeon
E
- Eucalyptus Mallee Company (1882 - 1885) - Manufacturing industry
F
- Felton Grimwade & Bickfords Pty Ltd (c. 1974 - ) - Pharmaceuticals or Medical Aids
G
- Grimwade, Edward Norton (1866 - 1945) - Pharmaceutical manufacturer, Manufacturer, Pharmacist
- Grimwade, Wilfrid Russell (1879 - 1955) - Chemist, Business executive, Pharmaceutical manufacturer
L
- Lauterer, Josef (Joseph) (1848 - 1911) - Physician, Botanist
- Lavers, Henry - Industrial chemist
- Long, John George (1886 - 1950) - Analytical chemist, Chemist
M
- Maiden, Joseph Henry (1859 - 1925) - Botanic gardens director, Economic botanist, Taxonomic botanist, Museum director
- McKean's Eucalyptus Works (1890s - 1960?) - Chemical Industries
- Moore, Charles (1820 - 1905) - Botanic gardens director, Botanist
- Morrison, Frank Richard (1895 - 1967) - Chemist, Museum Director
- Mueller, Ferdinand Jakob Heinrich von (1825 - 1896) - Botanic gardens director, Botanist, Naturalist
O
- Oil Mallee Company (1997 - ) - Chemical Industries
P
- Penfold, Arthur de Ramon (1890 - 1980) - Museum director, Chemist
S
- Shirley, John Francis (1849 - 1922) - Educator, Naturalist
- Smith, Henry George (1852 - 1924) - Chemist, Mineralogist
- Somerville, John Laird (1899 - 1986) - Chemist
- Sutherland, William (1859 - 1911) - Physicist, Physical chemist
T
- Taig Eucalyptus Company (1960s - ?) - Chemical Industries
W
- Wilkinson, Charles Smith (1843 - 1891) - Geologist
- Willis, Jack Lehane (1918 - 2004) - Chemist, Museum director