125 stories for 125 years

War Memorial

The Victorian College of Pharmacy is an official war memorial college. The college community has close links with the Returned & Services League (RSL) and proudly honours the important roles that students, staff and graduates have played in Australia’s defence efforts.

After the second World War, ex-service personnel began returning to civilian life. Some resumed their pre-war employment but many had enlisted directly from school and needed to find a new career. In response, the Federal Government introduced the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, which encouraged and assisted ex-service personnel to take up secondary and tertiary courses. The college received more than 200 applications in 1945, plus a number of men who had been released from apprenticeships to enlist in the services, resumed their studies. By 1946 total enrolments exceeded 470 and student numbers further increased in the following years. A decision was taken to move from Swanston Street to a new site.

In 1946 an application to form a ‘Sub-branch of the Returned Sailors’ Soldiers’ and Airmens’ Imperial League of Australia’ was signed by 15 students and supported by industry practitioners. The early years of the group were very successful and in 1948 membership exceeded 120. Meanwhile, the property in Parkville was purchased as the new site of the college, and a War Memorial Building Appeal was launched and directed by business and pharmacy industry leaders who would remain active in the college for many years, including ATS Sissons, and Eric Scott. The Cossar family donated a substantial sum to the appeal as did H.W. Woods, as an industrial donor. By 1960 the appeal had raised over two hundred and fifty thousand pounds

The foundation stone for the college was laid by the Governor of Victoria, General Sir Reginald Alexander Dallas Brooks before a guard of honour of ex-service pharmacist on 30 October 1957. Sir Brooks opened the new college in March 1960.

The Chemists Returned Services League’s sub-branch clubroom is located in the Sissons building, marked by the Book of Remembrance in the lobby.