22 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



toria, whirh had just then been separated into an independent 

 colony. A powerfid factor was thus added to the economic and 

 scientific advancement of the continent. The consequent stimulus 

 to a higher intellectual culture resulted in the foundation of the 

 Universities of Sydney and Melbourne, and the establishment of 

 systematically-organised geological surveys. 



The University of Sydney was opened in October, 1852, but the 

 study of geology was not introdiiced till 1866, Dr. Alex. M. 

 Thomson being then appointed reader in geology and mineralogy. 

 In 1870 he was made professor. On his death, in 1872, he 

 was succeeded by Professor Liversidge, whose real work was 

 always chemistry and mineralogy. In 1 882, upon a redistribution 

 of the subjects of the University curriculum, Mr. W. J. Stephens 

 was appointed professor of natural history and lecturer on physical 

 geography and geology. After his death, towaz-ds the close of 

 1890, the present professorship of geology and physical geography 

 was inaugurated, and Mr. David, who had been assistant on the 

 geological staff of New South Wales since 1882, was appointed to 

 the chair in 1891. 



The University of Melbourne was opened on October 3rd, 1855, 

 and from its inception took a prominent place in the history of 

 geological progress in Australia. To this I shall again refer in 

 connection with the Geological Survey of Victoria. 



Concurrently therefore with the memorable events just alluded 

 to the history of geological progress enters upon a new period. Up 

 to 1 853 our exact knowledge of the sedimentary deposits, as derived 

 from the organic remains, was confined to the Carboniferous, to 

 a late Tertiary (represented by the Diprotodon period), and to a 

 more recent ^Eolian formation : no distinct identification of Upper 

 Silurian, Devonian, or Eocene had been forthcoming, though th^ir 

 existence was implied, whilst the only evidence of a Mesozoic epoch 

 was a single imperfect example of a Belemnite. Restricted means of 

 communication in a vast extent of country was the main cause 

 which retarded advancement in geological investigation. With 

 increasing population this barrier was gradually removed. Expan- 

 sion of our pastoral occupation and the opening out of new trade 

 routes brought new fields within the horizon of geological vision. 

 It is, therefore, not a matter for surprise that in the next decade 

 great and rapid advances were made in establishing a comparison 

 on palgsontological grounds with corresponding geological systems 

 of Europe. The history of geological progress in the second half 

 century is mainly that of the Geological Surveys ; and the chrouo- 



