P006941 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2022-04-19 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-03-31 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P006941b.htm person Finlayson Hedley Herbert AACR2 19 March 1895 29 July 1991 Place of Birth Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Place of Death North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Organic chemist Mammalogist Hedley Finlayson was an organic chemist who for over 40 years was on the staff of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Adelaide. He investigated explosives, to his cost: he suffered injuries including the loss of one eye in explosions. Other research included resins derived from grass trees (Xanthorrhoea species) and compounds used as pigments from Drosera whittakeri. Finlayson became an expert on Australian mammals. During the 1930s he made four significant expeditions into Central Australia, later also visiting other states. He relied on the zoological knowledge of indigenous people, particularly their knowledge of species distribution and fluctuation. Finlayson was an early advocate of large conservation reserves in the outback: on a return visit to Central Australia in the 1950s he noted the absence of species present on his earlier visits. For nearly 40 years he was an honorary curator of mammals at the South Australian Museum. He severed his connection with the Museum and withdrew his collections when the curatorship was made a paid position. Finlayson bequeathed his collection of more than 2,900 meticulously-documented specimens, including some now extinct, to the Museum of Central Australia. He published over 60 papers on the taxonomy and ecology of mammals. 1914 1958 Career position - Demonstrator, Department of Chemistry, University of Adelaide 1927 1930 Career position - Honorary Associate in Mammalogy, South Australian Institute 1930 1940 Career position - Honorary Curator of Mammals, South Australian Institute 1940 1965 Career position - Honorary Curator of Mammals, South Australian Museum 1960 1960 Award - Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia 1962 1962 Award - John Lewis Gold Medal, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australian Branch South Australian Institute (1856 - 1940)

Honorary Curator of Mammals 1930 - 1940

 South Australian Museum (1940 - )

Honorary Curator of Mammals 1940 - 1965

 Sir Joseph Verco Medal, Royal Society of South Australia (1928 - )

Awarded the Medal 1960

 John Lewis Gold Medal, Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, South Australia Branch (1947 - )

Awarded the Medal 1962

 'Finlayson, Hedley Herbert', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Finlayson, Hedley Herbert Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Aboriginal knowledge of the mammals of the central deserts of Australia Burbidge, A; A.; Johnson, K. A.; Fuller, P. J.; and Southgate, R. I. Aboriginal knowledge of the mammals of the central deserts of Australia 1988 Wildlife research 15 1 9-39 Book: The red centre: man and beast in the heart of Australia Finlayson, H. H. The red centre: man and beast in the heart of Australia Sydney Angus & Robertson 1935 Journal Article: The H. H. Finlayson mammal collection Horner, Paul; and Johnson, Ken The H. H. Finlayson mammal collection 2021 Australian mammalogy 44 1 1-15 Book: A truly remarkable man: the life of H. H. Finlayson and his adventures in Central Australia Tonkin, Don A truly remarkable man: the life of H. H. Finlayson and his adventures in Central Australia Adelaide Seaview Press 2001 Book Section: Finlayson, Hedley Herbert (1895 - 1991), mammalogist Harris, Colin Finlayson, Hedley Herbert (1895 - 1991), mammalogist Canberra Australian National University Press 2021 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 19: 1991 - 1995 A-Z Melanie Nolan 272-3 Journal Article: Forays of Finlayson Rae, Ian Forays of Finlayson 2020 Chemistry in Australia 2020 July/August 41