P000902 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human McCarthy, G.J., Moje, C. & Walsh, N. updated 2026-05-21 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000902b.htm person Willis James Hamlyn AM AACR2 28 January 1910 10 November 1995 Place of Birth Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia Place of Death Brighton, Victoria, Australia Botanist Jim Willis was one of Australia's most renowned and beloved botanists and authors. He was taxonomic botanist at the National Herbarium within the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, from 1937 to the end of his career in 1972. Willis received many honours including those from the Australian Institute of Horticulture, the Society for Growing Australian Plants, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the National Trust of Australia, and the Royal Society of Victoria's Research Medal. He was educated at the Victorian School of Forestry in Creswick (Dip.For.) and at the University of Melbourne (BSc, DSc). He is commemorated in Eucalyptus willisii Ladiges, Humphries & Brooker (1938) as well as species in several other genera. In a extensive publishing career Willis issued over 400 books and articles, including the milestone Handbook to plants in Victoria which was based on his considerable knowledge of the Victorian flora. Willis's wife Mavis was an enthusiastic participant in his many field trips. The National Herbarium of Victoria holds nearly 19,000 specimens collected by Willis, and awards the J. H. Willis Studentship annually. 1930 1939 Career position - Forests Commission Field Officer in Victoria 1939 1947 Career position - Assistant, National Herbarium of Victoria 1947 1961 Career position - Botanist, National Herbarium in Victoria 1948 1951 Career position - Editor, Victorian naturalist 1954 1954 Taxonomy event - Co-author of Eucalyptus aromaphloia L.D.Pryor & J. H. Willis 1955 1967 Career position - Editor, Muelleria 1958 1959 Career position - Australian Botanical Liaison Officer, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1960 1960 Award - Australian Natural History Medallion 1961 1972 Career position - Assistant Government Botanist, National Herbarium 1970 1971 Career position - Acting Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the National Herbarium 1972 1972 Life event - Retired 1973 1973 Award - Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research (jointly) 1983 1983 Taxonomy event - Honoured with Eucalyptus willisii Ladiges, Humphries & Brooker 1995 1995 Award - Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service to botany particularly in the field of Australian flora Bedggood, Stella Amelia (1916 - 1978) Ramsay, Hilda Eileen (Eileen) (1886 - 1961) The Victorian naturalist (1884 - )

Editor 1948 - 1951

 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1759 - )

Australian Botanical Liaison Officer 1958 - 1959

 Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, State of Victoria (1958 - )

Acting Director 1970 - 1971

 National Herbarium of Victoria (1896 - )

Botanist 1939 - 1961; Assistant Government Botanist 1961 - 1972; nearly 19,000 of Willis's specimens are in the Herbarium.

 Australian Natural History Medallion, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (1940 - )

Awarded the Medallion 1960

 Muelleria (1956 - )

Editor 1956 - 1967

 Royal Society of Victoria Medal for Excellence in Scientific Research (1959 - )

Awarded the Medal (jointly) 1973

 Willis, Rupert Allan (1898 - 1980)

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Willis, J H (1910-1995)

Trove

 'Willis, James Hamlyn (Jim)', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Willis, James Hamlyn (Jim) Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book: A handbook to plants in Victoria. Volume 1: Ferns, conifers and monocotyledons Willis, James H. A handbook to plants in Victoria. Volume 1: Ferns, conifers and monocotyledons Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1962 Book: Supplement to A handbook to plants in Victoria, volumes I and II Willis, J. H.; Forbes, S. J.; and Ross, J .H. Supplement to A handbook to plants in Victoria, volumes I and II Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1988 Journal Article: Short History of the Discovery and Naming of Banksias in Eastern Australia: Part 7, James Hamlyn Willis and Alexander George Salkin, A. I. Short History of the Discovery and Naming of Banksias in Eastern Australia: Part 7, James Hamlyn Willis and Alexander George 1982 The Victorian naturalist 99 4 136-139 Journal Article: James Hamlyn Willis: a biographical sketch [includes list of publications] James Hamlyn Willis: a biographical sketch [includes list of publications] 1975 Muelleria 3 2 69-88 Journal Article: James Hamlyn Willis: a True Conservationist Jack, Christopher James Hamlyn Willis: a True Conservationist 1998 Australasian Science 19 9 48 Resource: James Hamlyn Willis Guide to Records Tropea, Rachel, Barnes, Andrea and Anderson, Fay James Hamlyn Willis Guide to Records Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre 2000 Journal Article: Jim Willis: a Lifelong Passion for Botany Tropea, Rachel Jim Willis: a Lifelong Passion for Botany 2001 Australasian Science 22 3 46 Book: A handbook to plants in Victoria. Volume 2: Dicotyledons Willis, James H. A handbook to plants in Victoria. Volume 2: Dicotyledons Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1972 Journal Article: William Hunter (1893-1971): Doyen of East Gippsland Botanists Willis, J. H. William Hunter (1893-1971): Doyen of East Gippsland Botanists 1971 The Victorian naturalist 88 4 88-91 Journal Article: Botanical Science in Victoria 100 Years Ago Willis, J. H. Botanical Science in Victoria 100 Years Ago 1961 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 73 41-45 Journal Article: The First Century of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria Willis, J. H. The First Century of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1980 The Victorian naturalist 97 3 93-106 Journal Article: Alexander Hugh Chisholm, OBE, CMZS., C.F.A.O.U. (1890-1977). An Appreciation Willis, J. H. Alexander Hugh Chisholm, OBE, CMZS., C.F.A.O.U. (1890-1977). An Appreciation 1977 The Victorian naturalist 94 5 188-190 Journal Article: Ferdinand von Mueller: Nestor of Australian Botany Willis, J. H. Ferdinand von Mueller: Nestor of Australian Botany 1948 Australian Journal of Science 10 136-140 Book Section: Baron von Mueller's Travels in the Australian Alps, 1853-61 Willis, J. H. Baron von Mueller's Travels in the Australian Alps, 1853-61 Canberra Australian Alps Liaison Committee 1989 The Scientific Significance of the Australian Alps: The Proceedings of the First Fenner Conference on the Environment Roger Good 381-382 Journal Article: Richard Wallace Bond (1914-1976) - an appreciation Willis, J. H. Richard Wallace Bond (1914-1976) - an appreciation 1977 The Victorian naturalist 94 2 75 Journal Article: Vale, Norman Arthur Wakefield Willis, J. H. Vale, Norman Arthur Wakefield 1973 The Victorian naturalist 90 4 103-105 Book: Flowers and plants of Victoria Willis, J. H., Fuhrer, B. A. and Rotherham, E. R. Flowers and plants of Victoria Terrey Hills, N.S.W. Reed 1975 Journal Article: Late Raleigh Adelbert Black (1880-1963) and his Private Herbarium Willis, J. H. Late Raleigh Adelbert Black (1880-1963) and his Private Herbarium 1967 Muelleria 1 3 233-238 Conference Paper: Melbourne: a Focal Point for Early Botanical Activity Willis, J. H. Melbourne: a Focal Point for Early Botanical Activity Melbourne Australian Systematic Botany Society 1990 History of Systematic Botany in Australasia: Proceedings of a Symposium Held at the University of Melbourne, 25-27 May 1988 Short, P.S. 1-4 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Collectings in Victoria Willis, J. H. Robert Brown's Collectings in Victoria 1956 Muelleria 1 51-54 Journal Article: The Botany of the Victoria Exploring Expedition (September 1860-June 1861) and of Relief Contingents from Victoria (July 1861-Noveber 1862) Willis, J. H. The Botany of the Victoria Exploring Expedition (September 1860-June 1861) and of Relief Contingents from Victoria (July 1861-Noveber 1862) 1962 Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 75 247-268 Journal Article: Robert Brown's Bass Strait journal of April/May 1802 (a transcription) Willis, J. H.; and Skewes, C. I. Robert Brown's Bass Strait journal of April/May 1802 (a transcription) 1956 Muelleria 1 46-50 Journal Article: Botanical pioneers in Victoria - I Willis, J. H. Botanical pioneers in Victoria - I 1949 Victorian naturalist 66 5 83-9 Journal Article: Botanical pioneers in Victoria - II Willis, J. H. Botanical pioneers in Victoria - II 1949 Victorian Naturalist 66 6 103-9 Journal Article: Botanical pioneers in Victoria - III Willis, J. H. Botanical pioneers in Victoria - III 1949 Victorian naturalist 66 7 123-8 Journal Article: Vale, William Henry Nicholls (July 23, 1855 - March 10, 1951) Willis, J. H. Vale, William Henry Nicholls (July 23, 1855 - March 10, 1951) 1951 The Victorian naturalist 67 2541-3 Journal Article: A tribute to the late Frederick Stanley Colliver Willis, J. H. A tribute to the late Frederick Stanley Colliver 1992 The Victorian naturalist 109 5 191 Book Section: Botanical exploration of Victoria Willis, J. H.; and Cohn, Helen M. Botanical exploration of Victoria Melbourne Inkata Press 1993 Flora of Victoria Foreman, D. B. and Walsh, N. G. 1 61-79 Journal Article: First lady recipient of Natural History Medallion - Mrs Edith Coleman Willis, J. H. First lady recipient of Natural History Medallion - Mrs Edith Coleman 1950 The Victorian naturalist 67 5 99-100 Journal Article: The late Patrick Francis Morris (1896-1974) Willis, J. H. The late Patrick Francis Morris (1896-1974) 1974 The Victorian naturalist 91 205-6 Journal Article: The passing of a great plantsman: James Wales Audas Willis, J. H. The passing of a great plantsman: James Wales Audas 1961 The Victorian naturalist 77 273-5 Journal Article: Thomas Stephen Hart (1871-1960) Willis, J. H. Thomas Stephen Hart (1871-1960) 1960 The Victorian naturalist 77 111-14 Journal Article: P. N. S. Bibby (1907-55) Willis, J. H. P. N. S. Bibby (1907-55) 1955 The Victorian naturalist 72 99-100 Journal Article: William Henry Nicholls Willis, J. H. William Henry Nicholls 1951 Wild life 1951 456-8 Journal Article: A botanical retrospect (F.N.C.V., 1880-1950) Willis, J. H. A botanical retrospect (F.N.C.V., 1880-1950) 1950 The Victorian naturalist 67 65-70 Journal Article: The passing of a great orchidologist (Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, 1872 - 1956) Willis, J. H. The passing of a great orchidologist (Rev. H. M. R. Rupp, 1872 - 1956) 1956 The Victorian naturalist 73 5 105-10 Journal Article: Latest two recipients of the Australian Natural History Medallion Willis, J. H. Latest two recipients of the Australian Natural History Medallion 1964 The Victorian naturalist 81 6 192-3 Journal Article: Death of Dr. Charles Stanford Sutton Willis, J. H. Death of Dr. Charles Stanford Sutton 1954 The Victorian naturalist 67 121 Journal Article: James Hamlyn Willis (1910 1995); a mycological appreciation May, T. W. James Hamlyn Willis (1910 1995); a mycological appreciation 1996 Australasian mycological newsletter 15 1 3-7 Journal Article: Obituary: Dr James Hamlyn Willis A.M. 28 January 1910-10 November 1995 Aston, H. I. Obituary: Dr James Hamlyn Willis A.M. 28 January 1910-10 November 1995 1996 Muelleria 10 21-5 Journal Article: Mary White and James Willis archives Cohn, Helen M. Mary White and James Willis archives 1997 Botanic magazine 7 31-2 Book: Botanical Pioneers in Victoria Willis, J. H. Botanical Pioneers in Victoria [Melbourne] [Brown Prior Anderson] 1949 The Victorian naturalist 66 19 Journal Article: From fungs to Fungimap: fungi and the FNCV May, T. W. From fungs to Fungimap: fungi and the FNCV 2005 The Victorian naturalist 122 6 319-26 Book: Dr. John Lhotsky : the turbulent Australian writer, naturalist and explorer Melbourne Kruta, V. et al. Dr. John Lhotsky : the turbulent Australian writer, naturalist and explorer Melbourne Melbourne Australia Felix Literary Club 1977 Book: Botanists of the Eucalypts: short biographies of people who have named eucalypts, whose names have been given to species or who have collected type material Hall, Norman Botanists of the Eucalypts: short biographies of people who have named eucalypts, whose names have been given to species or who have collected type material Melbourne CSIRO 1978

Source used to compile entry

 Records of James Hamlyn Willis Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Records of James Hamlyn Willis 1804 - 1996 In his lifetime, Willis amassed an extensive and significant collection of papers and photographs chronicling his youth, education, conservation efforts, botanical research and career, as well as Victoria's botanic and environmental history. Spanning nearly 200 years, the Willis collection includes correspondence; subject files regarding Australian botanists, collectors, botanical expeditions and explorers; plant survey lists and collecting notes; field notes and diaries; a near complete collection of his botanical slides; committee material; manuscripts; addresses; lectures; natural history specimens; newspaper clippings; publications and photographs. 29.94 m, 1987 items Photographs, Objects