PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: DUKE OF EDINBURGH TO BE PATRON
Statement by Sir Ian McLenanhairman ofLhe Executive Committee
of the Ian Cu :; cxs Momjoiial Foundation
His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh has accepted
the invitation of the Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation to
become its Patron.
The Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation was established
in 1959 as a non-profit organisation to honour the memory of the
late Sir Ian Clunies Ross, D. VoSco, Honorary LLODo
( Melbourne), FoA. A. who was Chairman of the C. SJI. RoO. from 1949
until his death in June, 1959.
His life had been one of outstanding service to Australia,
The first project of the Foundation is the building of
a National Science Centre in Melbourne, This will provide office
accommodation for the scientific and technological societies, a
number of which have their national headquarters in Melbourne. It
will also provide an auditorium and smaller meeting rooms for
lectures exhibitions, committee meetings and other gatherings
of scientists, By supporting the work of the societies in this
way, it is hoped to strengthen considerably the Australian
scientific community.
A site at 187-195 Royal Parade, Parkville ( Melbourne)
has been purchased for a sum of œ 50,000. This is admirably suited
to the purposes of the Foundation since it is close to the city,
opposite the University of Melbourne and in an area where there are
a number of other scientific and technological bodies, It is also
in an area where car parking will not present difficulties. The
Governors have appointed Messrs. Godfrey Spowers, Hughes, Mewton
and Lobb, as architects for Clunies Ross Housu, and have given their
general approval to preliminary sketch plans for a building. The
ground floor will be devoted to auditorium and meeting rooms and
the upper floors to the societies' offices.
As a result of a campaign for funds conducted on a
national basis, a sum of œ 242,000 has so far been received and a
further sum of œ 42,000 promised. The Governors of the Foundation
are confident that it will be possible to raise more money for the
purposes of the Foundation and negotiations are at present being
undertaken with several possible sources of fuuids. Final details
of the building will not be decided until the Foundationts
financial resources are more accurately known, but it is hoped
that it will be possible to call tenders and start building
operations during 1964,
Although the Foundation's first project is the establishment
of the National Science Centre in Melbourne, it plans to work
in all States. At present negotiations are in hand for opening an
office of the Foundation in Brisbane.
CANBERRA, 23rd January, 1964.
Further information may be obtained from
Mr. G. B. Uresford, Secretary of the Ian Clunies Ross Memorial
Foundation, 314 Albert Street, East Melbourne. Telephone 41.6611.
( Private Telephone 24.5399)