Publications about RACS History
On this page
Founders of the College
The Founders of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (PDF 27.82MB), by Sir Patrick Kenny FRACS (ed.), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne, 1984.
History of the College
Celebrating 80 years (PDF 1.04MB), by Gordon Low, RACS, 2007
A brief history of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (PDF 1.6MB), by John Masterton FRACS, 2006
The history of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1920-1935 (PDF 8.69MB), by Julian Ormond Smith FRACS, ANZ Journal of Surgery, Volume 41 (1), August 1971
The history of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 1935-1960 (PDF 2.19MB), by Sir Douglas Miller FRACS, ANZ Journal of Surgery, Volume 41 (4), May 1972
Forty years on: something on south sea surgery and surgeons (PDF 11.08MB), by F. Gordon Bell FRACS, ANZ Journal of Surgery, Volume 39 (1)
The history of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from foundation to 1935 (PDF 236.59KB), by Andrew Newton, B.A (Hons) thesis, Department of History, Monash University, 1979
The Mantle of Surgery
The Mantle of Surgery: seventy five years of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons can also be purchased. Fellows of the College who have not yet received their free copy should email [email protected] or phone +61 3 9276 7429.
History of surgery in Australia and New Zealand
How surgery came to Australasia (PDF 5.5MB), by Sir D'Arcy Power, Paper read at the opening of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne, 1935.
Australian surgeons and society (PDF 6.35MB), by Rowan Nicks, ANZ Journal of Surgery, Vol 50 (6), 1980.
Unveiling the Collections
Unveiling the Collections begins with the archetypal symbol of the College, the Great Mace. It continues with an exploration of a diverse group of objects loosely bound together by type and is divided into ten sections.
As the College approaches its centenary in 2027, it is important to reflect on its rich history. Although consisting of inanimate objects, the College collections help show how that history evolved. Most of the objects have interesting stories connected to them and they contribute to the complex web of relationships that have created a 21st century surgical College.
To order Unveiling the Collections, please send a completed order form (DOCX 424.75KB) to the RACS Archivist.