The 
South Australian Naturalist. 
Yol. XV. 
ADELAIDE. JUNE 12th, 1934. 
No. 3. 
BRIEF HISTORY 
of the 
FIELD NATURALISTS’ SECTION 
of the 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA 
Written for the Jubilee Celebration on 21st November, 1933 
By \\. H. Selway (Foundation Member). 
[Abridged | 
On two former occasions, in 1904. when the Section completed 
its 21st year, and in November. 1908, when it celebrated its 25th 
anniversary, I have given a brief review of its histoiv. lift) 
years ago,’ on the 13th of this month (November), the first 
meeting was held. A ou know we arc essentially a Natural His¬ 
tory Societv, but do you all know that a Society with such a 
name was started before the settlement of this State—or Province 
it was then called—was two years old.' , 
From John Blacket’s "History of South Australia,” it is 
learnt that ’in December, 1838, the pioneers formed the “Natural 
History Society of South Australia,” its object being “the cultiva¬ 
tion of the Science of Natural History in all its hianches. more 
especially the natural history of South Australia. His Excellency 
Governor Gawler was chosen Hon. President, Mr. A. H. Davis, 
President, Mr. Osmond Gilles, Treasurer (he was also Measurer 
of South Australia), and Secretary. J. E. Bright. Other well- 
known names were on the Council, including John Morpnett. 
Geonre Stevenson. David McLaren. Dr. Wyatt and Judge J.ck- 
ling. It is stated that Osmond Gilles offered a piece ol land 
(29 12 ”38) near Hurtle Square on which the Society was at 
liberty to erect a building. Another account says that this land 
was presented and the question has been raised as to what be¬ 
came of this land. Our pioneer Entomologist, says Mr. black¬ 
ed- account, “was Mr, G. A. Wilson, M.E.S., who, week after 
week, contributed to the "South Australian Register valuable 
notes on Natural History. He wrote under the name of Natu.ae 
And now let me take up the story of the origin of the 
Field Naturalists’ Section of the Royal Society of S.A. ^ 1 he 
first date having reference to a proposed /Natural History sec¬ 
tion of the Roval Societv was August 14th, 1883, when a speua, 
