Beginning

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute was established in 1915, and is Australia’s oldest medical research institute.

The vision was for an institute that would be:

"the birthplace of discoveries rendering signal service to mankind in the prevention and removal of disease and the mitigation of suffering."

Past directors

Past directors of the institute provided leadership and vision through 99 years of substantial advances in medical research. 

From the difficult post-war years, through the Great Depression and into major research developments such as immunology and biotechnology, our directors created the environment in which great discoveries were made.

• Dr Gordon Clunes McKay Mathison
• Dr Sydney W Patterson, 1919-1923
• Dr Charles H Kellaway, 1924-1944
• Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet, 1944-1965
• Sir Gustav Nossal, 1965-1996
• Professor Suzanne Cory, 1996-2009

Discoveries

Since 1915 our scientists have been making significant discoveries in immunity, cancer, infectious diseases. These discoveries have advanced our understanding of human biology and resulted in new and more effective treatments for patients worldwide.

Notable scientists

The institute has been home to some of Australia’s greatest scientists, as well as some unsung heroes of medical research.

• Miss Fannie Williams
• Sir Frank Macfarlane Burnet
• Dr Margaret Holmes
• Miss Dora Lush
• Professor Ian Mackay
• Professor Don Metcalf
• Professor Jacques Miller
• Sir Gustav Nossal

Alumni

If you have worked or studied at the institute - as a researcher, lab technician, visiting scientist, administrator, clinician or cleaner, to name but a few roles - we want to hear from you.

Tributes

We pay our respects to past colleagues, peers, collaborators and supporters for their contributions to the institute and medical research, including:

• Professor Donald Metcalf
• Dr Dave Kemp
• Mr Eddie Brownstein

Parkville development

The institute’s $185 million Parkville building redevelopment provided seven levels of new laboratories and scientific service areas, doubling our research capacity and providing beautiful new working spaces.

Hear scientists, architects and project staff recount their memories of this exciting building project.