We are delighted to offer RHSV members a tour of the The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) museum and building. Because of the limited number of places available for this tour, it is limited to those who are current members of the RHSV.

RACS was founded in 1927, by a group of leading surgeons who saw the need for a professional institution to improve and maintain the standards of surgery practised in Australia and New Zealand. Almost immediately a small collection of artefacts and surgical instruments, as well as a small library, started to form. The College building was completed in 1934. Provision was made on the upper floor for a library and museum, but it was not until the 1960s that a pathology museum was established.

In 2006, space became available for a museum dedicated to surgery, and on 27 February 2007 the College of Surgeons Museum was opened by the then president, Dr Russell Stitz and still exists today. The College of Surgeons Museum was formed as a teaching collection for surgical trainees. Today it provides an educational experience for Fellows, Trainees, the surgical and medical professions, and the general public. The College collections which support the Museum are large and diverse. They can be divided into four major groups:
• Works of art
• Rare and historic books
• Surgical instruments and equipment
• Gifts from Fellows and affiliated Colleges

A tour includes a viewing of the Hughes, Council, Hailes and Anne Kolbe rooms which include a walk through the College as well as a visit to the RACS museum.

RACS would prefer that all visitors be vaccinated against COVID

For those with some mobility issues, the tour does include a reasonable amount of walking and some stairs.

Transport
The Museum is easily accessible by public transport:
• By train to Parliament Station (Lonsdale Street exit)
• By tram on Routes 86 (Bundoora RMIT), 96 (East Brunswick) and City Circle, Stops 8 and 9 in Nicholson Street.