Physics was first taught at the tertiary level in Australia at the University of Sydney. Since the University's beginning in 1852, John Smith, one of the three foundation professors, taught experimental philosophy, along with chemistry and Morris Pell, another of the three foundation professors, taught the mathematical parts of physics as part of mathematics.
Smith was appointed well before laboratory instruction became part of training in physics. After Smith's death, Richard Threlfall, fresh from working with J.J.Thomson at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, was appointed Professor of Physics in 1886. By 1888 Threlfall had built Australia's first Physical Laboratory which was acknowledged to be as good as any physical laboratory in the world at that time. This laboratory made a profound impression on contemporaries such as William Bragg and Ernest Rutherford, then commencing their careers, and became the model for the rest of the country.
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HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICS
Dr Brian Mclnnes
Physics was first taught at the tertiary level in Australia at the University of Sydney. Since the University's beginning in 1852, John Smith, one of the three foundation professors, taught experimental philosophy, along with chemistry and Morris Pell, another of the three foundation professors, taught the mathematical parts of physics as part of mathematics.
Smith was appointed well before laboratory instruction became part of training in physics. After Smith's death, Richard Threlfall, fresh from working with J.J.Thomson at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, was appointed Professor of Physics in 1886. By 1888 Threlfall had built Australia's first Physical Laboratory which was acknowledged to be as good as any physical laboratory in the world at that time. This laboratory made a profound impression on contemporaries such as William Bragg and Ernest Rutherford, then commencing their careers, and became the model for the rest of the country.
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