P000852 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 Gavan McCarthy [P004098] and Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-02 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000852b.htm person Vonwiller Oscar Ulrich AACR2 18 February 1882 30 July 1972 Place of Birth Paddington, New South Wales, Australia Place of Death Lewisham, New South Wales, Australia Physicist University Administrator Oscar Vonwiller was a physicist whose research initially was into the electrical properties of solids, particularly selenium, molybdenite and silicon. He later concentrated on optics and spectroscopy. Vonwiller joined the staff of the University of Sydney in 1902 as Demonstrator in Physics, later being Professor of Physics from 1923 to 1946. He oversaw the construction of the new physics building (opened 1925), and with very few staff shouldered an increasing teaching load. Among his publications was Practical physics (1907, 2nd edition 1918), a text book for first years students written with J. A. Pollock. During WWII Vonwiller was a member of the Optical Munitions Panel, organising the Sydney contribution to optical munitions relating to anti-aircraft gun-sights and reconditioning requisitioned binoculars. He was a president of many bodies including the Royal Society of New South Wales and a foundation President of the Science Teachers' Association of New South Wales. 1902 1902 Career position - Demonstrator in Physics, University of Sydney 1902 1902 Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Sydney 1903 1913 Career position - Assistant Lecturer in Physics, University of Sydney 1913 1923 Career position - Assistant Professor then Associate Professor (from 1921) of Physics, University of Sydney 1921 Career position - Foundation Councillor (Physics), Australian National Research Council 1923 1946 Career position - Professor of Physics, University of Sydney 1927 1972 Award - Fellow, Institute of Physics, London 1930 1930 Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales 1930 1961 Career position - Member, Board of Visitors, Sydney Observatory 1934 1938 Career position - Supervisor of Research, Cancer Research Commission, University of Sydney 1934 1940 Career position - Treasurer, Australian National Research Council 1935 1935 Career position - President, Section A (Mathematics, physics and astronomy), Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science 1937 1937 Career event - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) 1939 1941 Career position - Dean, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney 1944 1955 Career position - Member, Board of Visitors, Commonwealth Solar Observatory, Mt Stromlo, Australian Capital Territory 1946 1946 Life event - Retired 1950 1950 Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Medal 1963 1972 Award - Fellow, Australian Institute of Physics Pollock, James Arthur (1865 - 1922) Commonwealth Solar Observatory, Commonwealth of Australia (1924 - c. 1950)

Commonwealth Solar Observatory - Member, Board of Visitors 1944 - 1955

 Sydney Observatory, Colony and State of New South Wales (1858 - )

Member, Board of Visitors 1930 - 1961

 Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Treasurer 1934 - 1940; Foundation Member (Physics) 1921 -

 The University of Sydney (1850 - )

Professor of Physics 1923 - 1946; Dean, Faculty of Science 1939 - 1941

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

President, Section A (Mathematics, physics and astronomy) 1935; Fellow 1937 -

 Royal Society of New South Wales (1866 - )

President 1930

 Royal Society of New South Wales Medal (1884 - )

Awarded the Medal 1950

 Optical Munitions Panel (1940 - 1945)

Served on the Panel, 1940 - 1945, managing its work through the Physics Department, University of Sydney.

Wikidata

 Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich (1882-1972)

Trove

 'Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Resource Section: Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich Australian Science Archives Project 1997 The Giant's Eye: the Optical Munitions Exhibition A Bright Sparcs Exhibition Resource Section: Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Journal Article: Obituaries: Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller: Clive Melville Harris: Charles Bickerton Blackburn: Lawrence Bragg Obituaries: Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller: Clive Melville Harris: Charles Bickerton Blackburn: Lawrence Bragg 1973 Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 106 3/4 130-132 Book Section: Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich (1882-1972), professor of physics McCaughan, J. B. T. Vonwiller, Oscar Ulrich (1882-1972), professor of physics Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1990 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 12: 1891 - 1939 Smy-Z John Ritchie 333-334 Book: Practical physics: intended primarily for first year students in the University of Sydney Pollock, J. A. and Vonwiller, O. U. Practical physics: intended primarily for first year students in the University of Sydney 2nd Sydney Angus & Robertson 1918 Resource: Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering Technology in Australia 1788-1988 Online Melbourne Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000 Journal Article: Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities Bolton, H. C. Optical Instruments in Australia in the 1939-45 War: successes and lost opportunities Melbourne Australian Science Archives Project 1990 Bright Sparcs Exhibition Papers Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller - Records University of Sydney, Archives Oscar Ulrich Vonwiller - Records 1963 Manuscripts written by Vonwiller 1963 [Accession No. 963].