Geological Survey of Victoria

Full description

Established in 1852, the Geological Survey of Victoria (VA 4118) is one of the longest-running government agencies in the State, and the oldest State Geological Survey in Australia (Department of Energy and Minerals (VA 3035) Annual Report 1992-93).

The Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) has studied, surveyed, and mapped the State’s surface and sub-surface for over 170 years. Through geoscientific investigation and analysis, the GSV provides vital information about the State’s natural resources to the Victorian Government, industry, researchers, and the public.

The necessity for such an agency was first expressed in a request to the Colonial Office in London by Governor Latrobe in 1851, shortly after gold was discovered in Victoria. The following May, Alfred Selwyn was appointed the first Mineral Surveyor for the Colony of Victoria, and later that same year took up office as Government Geologist. Working at first with only one assistant and a tentkeeper, Selwyn mapped more than 1000 square miles a year, producing Victoria’s first geological map within three months of his arrival in the colony, beginning work on the project known as the Geological Survey of Victoria.

While the Geological Survey function (VF 24) has been relatively stable over its lifetime and the title of its chief officer has remained Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria, the name of the responsible administrative unit has changed several times.

By 1868, the agency was known as the Geological Survey Office and its Director reported to the Minister of Mines, and subsequently the Secretary, of the Department of Mines (VA 2719). By 1940, the Annual Report of the Department of Mines placed the Director of Geological Survey as head of the Geological Branch.

Following transfer of the function to the Department of Minerals and Energy (VA 611) in 1977, the name of the unit changed to the Geological Survey Branch. In 1980 it changed again to Geological Survey Division, under which name it appeared in Victorian Government Directories till 1988.

From 1989 the word ‘Division’ no longer appeared as part of the name, and in the 1994-95 annual report of the Department of Agriculture, Energy and Minerals (VA 3744), the name Geological Survey of Victoria is used to identify the business unit within the Minerals and Petroleum Group.

In February 2004 the name of the unit changed to GeoScience Victoria following a merger with the Petroleum Development Branch of the parent Department of Primary Industries (DPI) (VA 4563), and in 2012 as a result of another restructure, Geoscience Victoria ceased to exist as an entity within the department. The name Geological Survey of Victoria is resumed in the DPI annual report of 2012-2013.

Following administrative changes in government in 2013, the function was transferred to the new Department of State Development, Business and Innovation (VA 5001), which was re-named the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (VA 5034) in 2015. In 2019 the Geological Survey of Victoria was transferred to the newly established Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (VA 5251) as part of a machinery of government change, where it remained until a further change transferred the function to the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (VA 5285) in 2023.

Over the many years since its inception, the Geological Survey of Victoria has been a subsidiary agency to numerous government Departments:

• 1852-1857: Surveyor-General's Department (VA 2921)
• 1857-1858: Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538)
• 1858-1861: Chief Secretary's Department (VA 475)
• 1861-1862: Department of Mines (also known as the Mining Department) (VA 2719)
• 1862-1867: Department of Crown Lands and Survey (VA 538)
• 1867-1895: Department of Mines (also known as the Mining Department) (VA 2719)
• 1895-1909: Department of Mines and Water Supply (VA 2720)
• 1909-1977: Mines Department (also known as Department of Mines and Mining Department) (VA 612)
• 1977-1985: Department of Minerals and Energy (VA 611)
• 1985-1990: Department of Industry, Technology and Resources (VA 2661)
• 1990-1990: Department of Industry and Office of Economic Planning (previously known as Department of Industry and Economic Planning) (VA 3005)
• 1990-1992: Department of Manufacturing and Industry Development (VA 3012)
• 1992-1995: Department of Energy and Minerals (VA 3035)
• 1995-1996: Department of Agriculture, Energy and Minerals (VA 3744)
•  1996-2002: Department of Natural Resources and the Environment (VA 3972)
•  2002-2013: Department of Primary Industries (VA 4563)
•  2013-2014: Department of State Development, Business and Innovation (VA 5001)
•  2015-2018: Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (VA 5034)
•  2019-2022: Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (VA 5251)
•  2023-Present: Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (VA 5285)