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George William Rusden (1819-1903) |
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George Rusden migrated from Surrey, England with his
parents at the age of fourteen. After a short time farming and a visit to China, he took up a position as an agent for National Schools in 1849. He is most famous for being Clerk of Parliaments of Victoria and for his contribution to education in the state (including the development of mechanics’ institutes and the National School system, and the foundation of the University of Melbourne). Rusden is listed as being Chairman of the first Prahran Mechanics’ Institute committee, by 1858 he was listed as one of the three Institute trustees and remained so until 1899. He also sat on the first Committee of the Institute as reconstituted under the 1899 Act of Parliament. Rusden was a Brighton |
Municipal Councillor for five of the years between 1860-1873 and was Mayor of Brighton for three years. He was a Shakespeare enthusiast, and a gifted billiards player. His publications include works about Shakespeare, national education, and controversial histories of Australia and New Zealand. He was a staunch defender of the native peoples of Australasia. Rusden passed away at his home in South Yarra aged 84 and is buried at the St. Kilda Cemetery. (Source: George William Rusden and National Education in Australia 1849-1862 by A.G. Austin.) |
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