Royal Society of Victoria

The Society has played an important role in the life of Melbourne and Victoria including the development of the City of Melbourne's municipal infrastructure, establishment of the Melbourne Museum and Victorian national parks, convening of the first Australian Antarctic Exploration Committee in 1885, commission of the Victorian Exploring (Burke and Wills) Expedition and establishment of the Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences in 1978 (now the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, from 1996). It continues to be active with twice-monthly meetings throughout the year held in its historic headquarters at 8 La Trobe Street in the Melbourne CBD.