P000154 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J. updated 2025-08-12 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000154b.htm person Smith Louis Lawrence AACR2 15 May 1830 8 July 1910 Place of Birth London, England Place of Death East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Physician Politician Museum curator Louis Smith, a proponent of commercialised medicine, opened a surgery in Bourke Street, Melbourne, in 1853 which soon expanded to include a Museum of Anatomy and a Polytechnic Hall. He developed a popular approach to medicine and advertised widely.

While Smith did not invent a revolutionary treatment, make a ground breaking medical discovery or radically redefine medical practice he did differ from many mainstream medical practitioners of his day in his openness and commercialisation of his medicines and sexual health. This commercialisation carried over into the establishment of a Museum and Polytechnic Hall in Burke Street which aimed not only to educate but to entertain. His facility also targeted all classes and strata's of Victorian colonial society regardless of level of education or age. His polytechnic and museum hosted popular public lectures and exhibitions. In a 2008 book chapter David Dunstan described Louis Lawrence Smith as personifying 'trend to a more democratic, inclusive and, above all, popular exhibition culture in Melbourne.'

A more controversial aspect of Louis Lawrence Smith's work was an anatomical museum for adults that dealt openly with sexual health. Smith cited a British colleague who had a similar institution, Dr R J Culverwell, as part of the reason for his interest in commercialisation and exhibitions and their potential impact on public attitudes to health and ability to attract paying patients. Although in later years he reported a change of heart regarding the value of anatomical museums.

 Royal Polytechnic Institute and Museum of Natural History and Science (1862 - 1869)

Founder of the Royal Polytechnic Institute and Museum of Natural History and Science

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Smith, Louis L (1830-1910)

Trove

 'Smith, Louis Lawrence', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Smith, Louis Lawrence Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Newspaper Article: [Not Title] [Not Title] Victoria 1867 Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser 4 Newspaper Article: In The Barbers Shop In The Barbers Shop Victoria 1869 The Telegraph, St Kilda, Prahran and South Yarra Guardian 8 Resource: The Melbourne Polytechnic precursor sought to educate, amuse and entertain Englart, John The Melbourne Polytechnic precursor sought to educate, amuse and entertain M Press a Melbourne Polytechnic Blog 2014 Book Section: Smith, Louis Lawrence (1830-1910), medical practitioner and politician Featherstone, Guy Smith, Louis Lawrence (1830-1910), medical practitioner and politician Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1976 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 6: 1851 - 1890 R - Z Bede Nairn 151-152 Resource: Science and the making of Victoria Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre Science and the making of Victoria 2001 Biographical cuttings on Louis Lawrence Smith, physician, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals National Library of Australia Biographical cuttings on Louis Lawrence Smith, physician, containing one or more cuttings from newspapers or journals 509199 Paper files and documents Louis Lawrence Smith - Records Queensland State Archives Louis Lawrence Smith - Records 1853 - 1890 Information and records in the register and files of the Colonial Secretary c1853-90. Louis Lawrence Smith - Records Australian Medical Association (Victorian Branch) Louis Lawrence Smith - Records 1852 - 1910 16 items relating to his professional career comprising mostly publications, advertisements, photographs biographical notes and obituaries 1852-1910. 16 items