P008040 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

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 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 2026-05-19 human Helen Cohn updated 2026-05-19 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P008040b.htm person Oddie James AACR2 31 March 1824 3 March 1911 Place of Birth Clitheroe, Lancashire, United Kingdom Place of Death Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Naturalist Auctioneer James Oddie was apprenticed to a foundry and worked in an engineering business in Manchester before migrating to Australia in 1849. He operated a foundry in Geelong before moving to Ballarat. Here he had a varied career as gold miner, store keeper, auctioneer and land agent; in the process he became very wealthy. Oddie was active in municipal affairs, being Chairman of the Municipal Council from 1856 to 1858. He was involved in securing an adequate water supply for Ballarat and helped in the establishment of the Botanic Gardens. Oddie strongly believed in self-improvement and education, and was also interested in science and technological developments. In 1881 he was Vice-President of the Council of the School of Mines. From 1882 to 1886 he was the first President of the Ballarat Field Club and Science Society. He also built an observatory at Mt Pleasant. 1849 1849 Life event - Migrated to Australia 1849 1851 Career event - Conducted foundry in Geelong, Victoria 1856 1858 Career position - Chairman, Ballarat Municipal Council 1860 1891 Career position - Member of the Board, Benevolent Asylum 1881 1881 Career position - Vice-President of Council, School of Mines 1882 1886 Career position - Inaugural President, Ballarat Field Club and Science Society Ballarat School of Mines (1871 - c. 1976)

Vice-President of Council 1881

 Ballarat Field Club and Science Society (1882 - 1918)

President 1882 - 1886

 'Oddie, James', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Oddie, James Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Book Section: Oddie, James (1824 - 1911) Oddie, G. A. Oddie, James (1824 - 1911) Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press 1974 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 5: 1851 - 1890 K-Q Nairn, Bede, Serle, Geoffrey and Ward, Russell 354-5 Thesis: A voice for nature: a history of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat Kruss, Susan A voice for nature: a history of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat Federation University Australia 2024