The Society was called the “Philosophical Society of Australasia” from 1821–2, “The Australian Philosophical Society” from 1850–5 and “The Philosophical Society of New South Wales” from 1855–1865 and, upon receiving Royal Assent, “The Royal Society of New South Wales” in 1866.
Term | Name | Discipline | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2021– | S.M. Pond AM FRSN | Medicine | Vice-President 2020–21 |
2018–2020 | I.H. Sloan AO FRSN | Mathematics | Vice-President & President-elect 2017-18 |
2016–17 | D.B. Hibbert AM FRSN | Chemistry | Vice-President & President-elect 2014-15 |
2012–15 | D.C.A. Hector AM FRSN | Chemical Engineering | Secretary (Editorial) 2010-11 |
2007–2011 | J.R. Hardie AM FRSN | Geology/Education | Second term (non-consecutive) |
2005–06 | J.C. Kelly DistFRSN | Physics | |
2003–04 | K. Kelly | Science Journalism | |
2001–02 | D.A. Craddock | Aeronautics | |
2000 | P.A. Williams | Geology | |
1999 | A.T. Baker | Chemistry | |
1998 | D.J. O'Connor | Physics | |
1997 | E.C. Potter | Chemistry | Second term |
1996 | K.L. Grose | Ancient History | |
1995 | D.F. Branagan AM | Geology | |
1994 | J.R. Hardie AM FRSN | Geology/Education | Secretary 1992 |
1993 | R.A.L. Osborne | Geology | |
1992 | F.L. Sutherland | Geology | Second term |
1991 | E.C. Potter | Chemistry | |
1990 | G.W.K. Ford MBE | Nuclear Science | Secretary 1993- |
1989 | H.S. Hancock | Geology | |
1988 | D.E. Winch | Mathematics | |
1987 | F.L. Sutherland | Geology | |
1986 | M.A. Stubbs-Race | Engineering | |
1985 | J.H. Loxton | Mathematics | |
1984 | R.S. Bhathal FRSN | Astronomy | Secretary 1989-91 |
1983 | R.S. Vagg | Chemistry | |
1982 | T.W. Cole | Engineering | |
1981 | B.A. Warren OAM DistFRSN | Pathology | |
1980 | G.S. Gibbons | Geology | |
1979 | D.H. Napper | Chemistry | |
1978 | F.C. Beavis | Geology | |
1977 | W.H. Robertson | Astronomy | |
1976 | D.J. Swaine | Chemistry | Secretary 1986-88 |
1975 | E.K. Chaffer | Geology | Secretary 1970-71 |
1974 | J.W. Pickett | Palaeontology | |
1973 | J.P. Pollard | Mathematics/Statistics | |
1972 | J.C. Cameron | Geology | Secretary 1969 |
1971 | M.J. Puttock | Metrologist | |
1970 | W.E. Smith | Mathematics | |
1969 | J.W.G. Neuhaus | Chemistry | |
1968 | A. Keane | Mathematics | |
1967 | A.H. Low | Mathematics | Secretary 1963-65 |
1966 | A.H. Voisey | Geology | |
1965 | A.A. Day | Geology | Joint Secretary 1959-60 |
1964 | J.W. Humphries | Physics | |
1963 | H.H.G. McKern | Chemistry | |
1962 | W.B. Smith-White | Mathematics | |
1961 | R.J.W. LeFevre | Chemistry | |
1960 | H.A.J. Donegan | Chemistry | |
1959 | A.F.A. Harper | Physics | |
1958 | J.L. Griffith | Mathematics | Secretary 1955-57; 1966-68 |
1957 | F.N. Hanlon | Geology | Joint Secretary 1954-56 |
1956 | F.D. McCarthy | Anthropology | |
1955 | M.R. Lemberg FRS | Biochemistry | |
1954 | R.S. Nyholm FRS | Chemistry | |
1953 | Ida A. Browne | Palaeontology | First female President; Joint Secretary 1950-52; 1957-58 |
1952 | C.J. Magee | Agriculture | |
1951 | R.C.L. Bosworth | Chemistry | Secretary 1948-50 |
1950 | F.R. Morrison | Chemistry | Joint Secretary 1946-47 |
1949 | Harley Wood | Astronomy | Joint Secretary 1948; 1951; 1958-60 |
1948 | R.L. Aston | Engineering | |
1947 | J.A. Dulhunty | Geology | |
1946 | F. Lions | Chemistry | |
1945 | A. Bolliger | Medicine | |
1944 | G.D. Osborne | Geology | Joint Secretary 1953 |
1943 | A.B. Walkom | Palaeobotany | |
1942 | Prof. H. Priestley | Biochemistry | |
1941 | D.P. Mellor | Chemistry | Joint Secretary 1943-47 |
1940 | A.P. Elkin CMG | Anthropology | Joint Secretary 1938-39; 1941-45 |
1939 | H.S.H. Wardlaw | Biochemistry | |
1938 | J.C. Earl | Chemistry | |
1937 | W.L. Waterhouse MC | Botany | |
1936 | E.H. Booth MC | Physics | Joint Secretary 1934-36 |
1935 | A.R. Penfold | Chemistry | |
1934 | R.J. Noble | Agriculture | Joint Secretary 1933 |
1933 | R.W. Challiner | Chemistry | |
1932 | W.R. Browne | Geology | |
1931 | Edwin Cheel | Botany | |
1930 | O.U. Vonwiller | Physics | Joint Secretary 1927-28; 1948 |
1929 | L.A. Cotton | Geology | |
1928 | W. Poole | Engineering | |
1927 | Prof. J. Douglas Stewart | Veterinary Medicine | |
1926 | Dr W.G. Woolnough | Geology | |
1925 | Prof. R.D Watt | Agriculture | |
1924 | Dr C. Anderson | Mineralogy | Joint Secretary 1935-42 |
1923 | R.H. Cambage CBE | Surveying | Second term |
1922 | C.A. Sussmilch | Geology | Joint Secretary 1928-33; 1936-37 |
1921 | E.C. Andrews | Geology | |
1920 | J. Nangle OBE | Astronomy | |
1919 | C.E. Fawsitt | Chemistry | |
1918 | W.S. Dun | Palaeontology | |
1917 | .B. Cleland | Microbiology | |
1916 | T.H. Houghton | Engineering | |
1915 | R. Greig-Smith | Bacteriology | Joint Secretary 1925-26 |
1914 | C. Hedley | Zoology | |
1913 | H.G. Smith | Chemistry | |
1912 | R.H. Cambage CBE | Surveying | Joint Secretary 1914-1922; 1925-27 |
1911 | J.H. Maiden FRS | Botany | Second term |
1910 | T.W.E. David KBE CMG DSO FRS | Geology | Second term |
1909 | H.D. Walsh | Engineering | |
1908 | W.H. Hamlet | Chemistry | Second term |
1907 | Henry Deane | Engineering | Second term |
1906 | T.P. Anderson Stuart | Physiology | Second term |
1905 | H.A. Lenehan | Astronomy | |
1904 | C.O. Burge | Engineering | |
1903 | F.B. Guthrie | Chemistry | Joint Secretary1907-1911 |
1902 | W.H. Warren | Engineering | Second term |
1901 | H.C. Russell CMG FRS | Astronomy | Fourth term |
1900 | A. Liversidge FRS FRSE | Chemistry | Third term |
1899 | W.H. Hamlet | Chemistry | |
1898 | G.H. Knibbs CMG | Mathematics | Joint Secretary 1896-97; 1899-1906 |
1897 | Henry Deane | Engineering | |
1896 | J.H. Maiden ISO | Botany | Joint Secretary 1893-5; 1897-1913 |
1895 | T.W.E. David KBE CMG DSO FRS | Geology | Joint Secretary 1893-94 |
1894 | R. Threlfall | Physics | |
1893 | T.P. Anderson Stuart | Physiology | Joint Secretary 1892 |
1892 | W.H. Warren | Engineering | Joint Secretary 1889-1891 |
1891 | H.C. Russell CMG FRS | Astronomy | Third term |
1890 | A. Leibius | Chemistry | Joint Secretary 1875-1885 |
1889 | Prof. A. Liversidge FRS FRSE | Chemistry | Second term |
1888 | Sir Alfred Roberts | Medicine | |
1887 | C.S. Wilkinson | Geology | |
1886 | C. Rolleston CMG | Statistics | Second term |
1885 | A. Liversidge FRS FRSE | Chemistry | Joint Secretary 1875-1884;1886-1888 |
1884 | H.C. Russell CMG FRS | Astronomy | Second term |
1883 | Prof. J. Smith | Physics | Second elected term |
1882 | C. Rolleston CMG | Statistics | Auditor-General |
1881 | H.C. Russell FRS | Astronomy | |
1880 | Hon. J. Smith | Physics | First elected President |
Hon. J. Smith | Physics | Senior Vice-President | |
1879 | Lord Augustus Loftus GCB PC | Diplomat | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Rev. W.B. Clarke FRS | Geology | Senior Vice-President | |
1872-78 | Sir Hercules Robinson GCMG PC | Public Administration | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Rev. W.B. Clarke FRS | Geology | Senior Vice-President | |
1868-71 | Lord Somerset R. Lowry-Corry GCMG PC 4th Earl of Belmore | Public Administration | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Rev. W.B. Clarke FRS | Geology | Senior Vice-President | |
1866-67 | Sir John Young GCMG KCB | Law | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Rev. W.B. Clarke FRS | Geology | Senior Vice-President | |
1861-65 | Sir John Young GCMG KCB | Law | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Hon. E. Deas Thomson KCMG CB | Public Administration | Senior Vice-President. Clerk of both the Council of NSW and the Executive & Legislative Council | |
1858-60 | Sir William Denison KCB | Engineering | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
Sir Charles Nicholson | Medicine | Senior Vice-President | |
1855-57 | Sir William Denison KCB | Engineering | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
1850-55 | Hon. E. Deas-Thomson KCMG CB | Public Administration | Senior Vice-President. Clerk of both the Council of NSW and the Executive & Legislative Council |
1821-22 | Sir Thomas Brisbane GCB GCH FRS FRSE | Astronomy | Governor NSW, Hon. President |
List compiled by Peter Tyler and Marian Haire. Sources used were The Royal Society of NSW, Journal and Proceedings and W.R. Browne, "Scientific Societies in Australia (6)", Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, March 1961. Recent updates and rearrangement by Brynn Hibbert.
The Society relies on having a vibrant membership and on voluntary contributions to support its work in advancing knowledge and inquiry, and promoting learned discussion and debate. Your support will allow us to continue to influence and contribute to the development of Australia's future.
An excellent way to support the work of the Society is to join and become actively involved in its activities. Membership is open to any person interested in contributing to a just, secure, and sustainable future, participating in discussions and debates based on authentic and authoritative information, and the advancement of knowledge in science, art, literature, and philosophy. The Society offers a vibrant program of lectures and special events that are held in Sydney and through its various branches in the Hunter region, the Southern Highlands, and Western NSW.
More information about the categories of membership, and how to join the Society is available through the preceding links.
We are a registered charity and very much welcome your support through donations or a bequest.
Bequests
Since its inception, the Society has benefited greatly from generous donations and bequests from both members and other benefactors. Most of the Society's prestigious awards and much of its library were established as a consequence of bequests.
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The Society publishes one of the oldest peer-reviewed journals in the Southern Hemisphere, the Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales. The journal is edited to high academic standards, and attracts publications predominantly in the sciences but also across all other disciplines of interest to the Society's readership.
The members of the editorial board are:
Dr. David Branagan MSc PhD(Syd) DSc(Hon)(Syd) FGS MAusIMM
Dr. Donald Hector BE PhD(Syd) CEng FRSN FIChemE FIEAust FAICD
Em. Prof. David Brynn Hibbert BSc PhD(Lond) CChem FRSN FRSC RACIV
Em. Prof. Heinrich Hora DipPhys Dr.rer.nat DSc FRSN FAIP FInstP CPhys
Dr. Michael Lake BSc PhD(Syd)
Dr. Nick Lomb BSc PhD(Syd)
Em. Prof. Robert Marks BE ME(Melb) MS PhD(Stanf) (Hon. Editor)
Prof. Bruce Warren MB BS(Syd) MA DPhil(Oxon) DistFRSN FRCPath
The Honorary Editor may be contacted directly at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
+61 2 9431 8691
Ms Katelyn Seary
+61 2 9431 8677
info[at]royalsoc.org.au
Most face-to-face meetings of the Society are held in the Metcalfe Theatre of the State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street, Sydney.
Meetings are also conducted online as Zoom webinars.
Papers (other than those specially invited by the Editorial Board) will only be considered if the content is either substantially new material that has not been published previously, or is a review of a major research programme. In the case of papers presenting new research, the author must certify that the material has not been submitted concurrently elsewhere nor is likely to be published elsewhere in substantially the same form. In the case of papers reviewing a major research programme, the author must certify that the material has not been published substantially in the same form elsewhere and that permission for the Society to publish has been granted by all copyright holders. Letters to the Editor and short notes may also be submitted for publication.
Manuscripts are only accepted in digital format and should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If the file is too large to email, please contact the editor, at the above email address.
Manuscripts will be reviewed by the Editor, in consultation with the Editorial Board (above), to decide whether the paper will be considered for publication in the Journal. Manuscripts are subjected to peer review by at least one independent reviewer. In the event of initial rejection, manuscripts may be sent to other reviewers.
The Society does not require authors to transfer the copyright of their manuscript to the Society but authors are required to grant the Society an unrestricted licence to reproduce in any form manuscripts accepted for publication in the Journal and Proceedings. Enquiries relating to copyright or reproduction of an article should be directed to the author.
Issues are scheduled to be published in June and December each year. An electronic version is posted to the web site and this is the formal publication date. The printed version is published 4-6 weeks after the electronic version is published.
28 February |
March - May |
June |
July - August |
Latest date for submission of papers (unless agreed with the Editor) |
Review and editing |
Typesetting and publication in electronic form |
Printing & posting |
31 August |
September - November |
December |
January - February |
Latest date for submission of papers (unless agreed with the Editor) |
Review and editing |
Typesetting and publication in electronic form |
Printing & posting |
Authors intending to submit papers for publication in the Journal and Proceedings are referred to the style guide that outlines formatting and submission requirements. Authors who use Thomson Reuters' EndNote bibliographic software may download an EndNote style template that is specifically designed for the Journal and Proceedings. Two Microsoft Word templates are available for download, one for refereed papers, the other for thesis abstracts. Papers should be submitted using these templates.
Papers for consideration are only accepted electronically. Paper manuscripts will not be accepted and will be returned unread to the corresponding author.