Faculty of Veterinary Science (1909 - c. 2015)

Summary

The Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne was the first veterinary school in Australia. The Faculty had a long history of excellence in all areas of veterinary science including research, teaching, clinical practice and support of the profession. In 2015 (?), under a University restructure, it became the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science. This lasted until 2023 when it became the Melbourne Veterinary School in the Faculty of Science at the Unviersity of Melbourne.

Details

The Faculty had strong relationships with animal-related industries and in particular with producers and service providers in:
* the cattle and sheep sector through the Mackinnon Project * and the Dairy Residents Project
* the poultry industry through the Asia Pacific Centre for Animal Health
* large animal biomedical sciences through the Centre for Animal Biotechnology
* the horse industry through services provided by the Equine Infectious Diseases Laboratory and the Equine Centre
* facilitate clinical research by providing diagnostic services through the Histology laboratory
* Australian wildlife through the Wildlife Health Surveillance Victoria [From wikivet.net]

AI Overview [2025-10-22]:
The University of Melbourne's Faculty of Veterinary Science was established in 1909, incorporating the earlier Melbourne Veterinary College. After a period where the undergraduate course was disbanded in 1928 due to low enrollment, the Faculty continued to operate through the Veterinary Research Institute, which was founded in 1922 to provide diagnostic and research services. In 1966, a new Clinical Centre was opened at Werribee, and in 2011, the university introduced the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. The Faculty was eventually merged into the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, which was itself disestablished in 2023 and its schools moved to other faculties.

Early history and initial establishment
The Faculty's origins trace back to the Melbourne Veterinary College, founded in 1888 by W.T. Kendall.
The college was taken over by the University of Melbourne in 1909, and the Faculty of Veterinary Science was officially constituted in the same year, making it the first of its kind in Australia.
A chair in Veterinary Pathology and a degree course were established in 1908, with the first three Doctor of Veterinary Science degrees awarded in 1909.

Disbandment and continuation of research
Student numbers were low, and the undergraduate course was disbanded in 1928.
However, the Faculty remained in existence to operate the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI).
The VRI provided diagnostic and research services and was funded substantially.

Re-establishment of teaching and campus development
The preclinical center was completed in 1965 in Parkville.
In 1966, a Clinical Centre was established at Werribee, a facility that now serves both teaching and research purposes.
Students now complete the first three years at the Parkville campus and the final two at the Werribee campus.

Modern era and program changes
In 2011, the university launched a new Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program.
This graduate-entry program is accredited by the AVMA, allowing graduates to practice in the US and Canada.
In 2023, the Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences was disestablished, with its components moving to the Faculty of Science.

Related entries

Timeline

 1888 - 1909 Melbourne Veterinary College
       1909 - c. 2015 Faculty of Veterinary Science