Key 92: Economics and Commerce [ii] 1946; 1949; 1954; 1961; 1975; 1977; Commerce Building 1963; 1974

 

In 1946 Wilfred Prest was appointed to a new chair of Economics (Truby Williams) and the department was incorporated into the renamed Faculty of Economics and Commerce.

Professor Wilfred Prest, 1983
Professor Wilfred Prest, 1983
[Source: University of Melbourne Archives Image Catalogue, UMA-I-2311]

The diploma in Commerce was phased out from 1947 and a four year Honours degree available from 1948. John A. La Nauze was appointed foundation professor of Economic History in 1949 and A. Alex. Fitzgerald took up the new chair of Accounting named for G.L. Wood in 1954, and R.I. Downing in 1954 became Ritchie Research Professor of Economics.

Professor R.I.
Professor R.I. "Dick" Downing
[Source: University Gazette, December 1975, p. 14]

F.P. Donovan took up a new chair in Commercial Law in 1952 (Business Law from 1986). The new subject of Industrial Relations, introduced in 1944, was combined with Elementary Jurisprudence and Constitutional Law to become a full department in 1955.

The Faculty moved to the new Commerce building in 1963, though shortage of funds meant the main Lecture (Copland) Theatre was not opened until 1966.

Economics and Commerce Stage 1, 1967
Economics and Commerce Stage 1 (in background as the former Professor’s house occupied by History and Philosophy of Science is demolished to make way for a Library extension), 1967
[Source: University of Melbourne Archives Image Catalogue, UMA-I-973]

The Western extension to this building opened in 1974. A second chair of Economics was established in 1961 and a chair of Econometrics in 1975. A second chair of Accounting named for Fitzgerald was created in 1977.

Accounting Professor Lou Goldberg (second from right), with other Commerce alumni, including Professor Peter Lloyd (centre)
Accounting Professor Lou Goldberg (second from right), with other Commerce alumni, including Professor Peter Lloyd (centre)
[Source: University of Melbourne Archives Media Photograph Collection, Photograph No 18406]