History of the School
In 1884 a group of dentists formed the Odontological Society of Victoria with the aims of the regulation and education of dentists in the state of Victoria. Mr John Illife (1847-1914), a member and later President of the Odontological Society of Victoria, was the driving force in negotiations for the regulation of dentistry in Victoria and the establishment of a hospital and college in Melbourne.
Thanks largely to his efforts, the Melbourne Dental Hospital opened its doors in 1890 and was followed in 1897 by the Australian College of Dentistry devoted solely to the education of dentists.
In 1904 a Faculty of Dental Science was established and the College was affiliated with The University of Melbourne. In 1963 the Faculty and the hospital moved from 193 Spring Street to 711 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.
In 1989 the Faculty of Dentistry merged with the Faculty of Medicine (established 1876) to create a new Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry comprising a School of Medicine and a School of Dental Science respectively. To reflect additional responsibilities, the faculty expanded in 1991 to become the present Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
Source:
Emeritus Professor Henry F Atkinson,
Honorary Curator,
The University of Melbourne's Dental Museum.
To find out more about the history of the School of Dental Science and the Dental Museum follow these links -
Chronology: http://www.cshs.unimelb.edu.au/umfm/biogs/FM00023b.htm
Museum: http://www.dent.unimelb.edu.au/dsweb/dental_museum/home.html