Lumen Winter 2014 - Flipbook - Page 9
Opening of John Melrose Laboratory at the Waite by the Governor of South Australia, Sir
Alexander Hore-Ruthven with benefactor, 'The Blind Squatter', John Melrose (on left), 1929
Library, 1906, originally housed in the Mitchell Building
Milestones and achievements
A formidable father-and-son team
University of Adelaide mathematics and physics lecturer William
Henry Bragg and his son Lawrence (William Lawrence) are
recognised as one of the most scientifically brilliant teams in history.
They were jointly awarded a Nobel Prize for Physics in 1915 for
their discovery and experimentation of X-ray crystallography.
Their discovery was so significant that 100 years on it still affects
many aspects of our lives from determining the structure of DNA
and proteins,
to developing
new drugs and
chemicals. The
Braggs are still the
only father-and-son
combination to win
a prestigious
Nobel Prize.
Sir William Henry Bragg
1900
1905
Elder Hall opens
1908
Blues Awards established for
outstanding sporting achievement
First ‘Prosh’ procession organised
by the Adelaide University Union
which involved a parade and stunts
organised to raise funds for charity
Douglas Mawson’s epic journey
1911 Sir
of exploration to Antarctica
1914
Henry Bragg and his
1915 William
son Lawrence jointly awarded
the Nobel Prize for Physics
Lawrence Bragg
1919
1920
Faculty of Dentistry established
1920
Graduates Association of the
University of Adelaide founded
1923
Thorburn Brailsford Robertson
produced the first insulin in Australia
in the University of Adelaide’s
Darling Building
1924
Waite Agricultural Research
Institute established
1924
University Golden Jubilee
Braggs' laboratory, 1900
The University
and the Great War
Sir Douglas Mawson
appointed Professor
By November 1918 the War had claimed the
lives of 63 staff, students and graduates with
many more injured among a total of almost 500
who served in some capacity. The University
archives contain a fascinating set of records
relating to their military service, including
several hundred letters from the families of
serving staff, students and graduates.
www.adelaide.edu.au/records/archives
|e University of Adelaide | Alumni Magazine 7
