Published Resources Details
Conference Paper
- Title
- Rich Vein of Learning: An Historical Assessment of Ballarat's Role in Australian Engineering Education
- In
- 9th National Conference on Engineering Heritage: Proceedings
- Imprint
- Institution of Engineers, Australia, Melbourne, Victoria, 1998, pp. 129-134
- ISBN/ISSN
- 1858256843
- Url
- https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.546616252043720
- Abstract
Formal education for engineers began in Australia in 1870, with the birth of the Ballarat School of Mines, following in the tradition of the Royal School of Mines in London, and several European institutes formed in the 18th Century. The first courses at the School of Mines were in areas related to mining, the major industry in 19th Century Victoria. But soon course offerings diversified into other branches of engineering. Schools of Mines were established in a number of mining centres throughout Australia by the end of the century - among them Bendigo, Melbourne, Adelaide, Charters Towers and Kalgoorlie all focussing on preparing engineers, metallurgists and geologists to work in various branches of the industry. University education in engineering related fields was also developing at the same time. This paper examines the growth of Schools of Mines, and the Ballarat School of Mines in particular, arguing that the School developed an Australia-wide reputation for the quality of its graduates. This reputation was based on the twin threads of sound theoretical education allied to practical application of knowledge. Industry readily accepted and supported the Schools of Mines, valuing the innovative contributions of graduates to solving technical problems confronting the mining industry.
Related Published resources
isPartOf
- 9th National Conference on Engineering Heritage: Proceedings edited by Martin, Ray L (Melbourne, Vic.: Institution of Engineers, Australia, 1998), 213 pp, https://search.informit.org/doi/book/10.3316/informit.1858256843. Details