Biographical entry Meston, Archibald Lawrence (1890 - 1951)

Summary

Archibald Meston began his professional career as a primary school teacher then moved into secondary teaching and eventually became government education officer in charge of high schools. Through this latter role, he greatly changed the face of education in Tasmania. Apart from teaching, Meston's other main interests were in the anthropology and history of Tasmania. He wrote numerous books and articles in the field and was a trustee of the Launceston Library Board and the Tasmanian Museum. His two biggest contributions to Tasmanian anthropology were the discovery of rock carvings in Mount Cameron West (1933) and the large-scale shell midden excavation in South Cave, Rocky Cape. Meston was also an activist for the conservation of Tasmania's natural bush and his efforts helped establish the Cradle Mountain Reserve.

Details

Events

1906 - 1908

Education - Teacher training at the Teachers' College in Hobart

c. 1909 - c. 1914

Career position - Primary School Teacher at various schools in Tasmania including ones in Battery Point, Queenstown and Gormanston

1914

Career position - Promoted to secondary school teaching

1914

Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA) completed at the University of Tasmania

1921 -

Career position - Member of the Royal Society of Tasmania

1922

Education - Master of Arts (MA) completed at the University of Tasmania

1929 - 1932

Career position - Headmaster of Devonport High School

1932 - c. 1938

Career position - Headmaster of Launceston High School

1933

Career position - Discovered and described rock carvings at Mount Cameron West, Tasmania

1934

Career position - A Junior History of Australia commissioned and published by Oxford University Press

1938 -

Career position - Government Education Officer for Hobart then Education Officer for High Schools

1944 -

Career position - Member of the Tasmanian Schools Board

Published resources

Book Sections

• Plomley, N. J. B., 'Meston, Archibald Lawrence (1890-1951), educationist, historian and anthropology', in Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 10, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1986, pp. 489-490. Also available at http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100476b.htm. Details

Online Resources

• 'Meston, A L (1890-1951)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1269464. Details