The CSIR Fisheries Investigation Section was founded in 1937. Shortly afterwards the Section gained Divisional status and was thenceforth the CSIR/O Division of Fisheries.
From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962) pdf page 16:
'"The Commonwealth started investigating fisheries in 1909, but abandoned the research programme in 1914 when the research ship was lost with all hands. Proposals to resume the work were made in 1933, and in 1935 the Government asked C.S.I.R. to enter the fisheries field. Specifically, the Council was asked to explore fishing grounds with a research vessel, carry out experiments on the canning, curing and preserving of fish, and to engage in marine biological work on the life history and distribution of economically important species.
In 1937 the first Officer-in-Charge, Dr. Harold Thompson, arrived in Australia from Newfoundland, where he had been Director of a fisheries research station. Dr. Thompson decided to establish headquarters on the site of an existing hatchery at Cronulla, near Sydney. The fisheries research vessel "Warreen" was commissioned and the exploration of fishing grounds began."'
Chronology events from "CSIRO at Sea" (1988) pages 211-212.
August 1935
August 1935
Event - Commonwealth fisheries investigations transferred to CSIR; Stanley
Fowler seconded to CSIR; Prof. W. J. Dakin appointed marine biology
adviser
November 1935
November 1935
Event - Cockatoo Island Shipyard prepares plans for fisheries research vessel
August 1936
August 1936
Event - Melbourne Harbour Trust tender of £17 451 for fisheries vessel
October 1936
October 1936
Event - First CSIR aerial survey of fish stocks made by Stanley Fowler in a seagull
amphibian off NSW, Victoria, Tasmania
March 1937
March 1937
Event - Harold Thompson takes up duties as OIC of CSIR "Fisheries Investigation Section"
August 1937
August 1937
Event - Thompson recommends Port Hacking site for the fisheries laboratory,
Council approves appointment ofE. J. Ferguson Wood, bacteriologist
March 1938
March 1938
Event - Prime Minister seeks acquisition of Cronulla from the NSW Premier
April 1938
April 1938
Event - CSIR Fisheries Section transferred from Melbourne to the hatchery site in
Cronulla
May 1938
May 1938
Event - First cruise of first CSIR vessel, FRV Warreen, from Melbourne
1939
1939
Event - David Rochford begins hydrology work
June 1939
June 1939
Event - New Cronulla biological laboratory occupied
May 1940
May 1940
Event - CSIR "Fisheries Investigation Section" renamed "Division of Fisheries "·
Chief Harold Thompson