History and Heritage

RANZCOG was formed on 23 October 1998, amalgamating the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG) and the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZCOG).
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College Chronology

Frank Forster Library

The Royal Australian College

The Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was formally established in August 1978. In 1980 the prefix ‘Royal’ was acquired and the College became the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG). The new College replaced the former Australian Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in London.

The Royal New Zealand College

The New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists was formally established in January 1982. The prefix ‘Royal’ was acquired in 1984 and the College became the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZCOG) The new College replaced the former New Zealand Council of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), in London.

Previous governing bodies

In 1932, the British College (later the RCOG) established the Dominion Reference Committees in Australia, Canada, South Africa, India and New Zealand. These committees consisted of members in each country nominated by the RCOG. Their main role was to advise the RCOG on the character and suitability of candidates for the Membership examination and to make recommendations for promotion to Fellowship.

In 1947 the RCOG raised the status of the Australian Reference Committee with the formation of a provisional Australian Regional Council (ARC), which became official in 1949. The ARC took over the functions of the former Australian Reference Committee, acting as a Standing Committee of the RCOG, its members elected by local Fellows and Members. The RCOG Council controlled the ARC, which consisted of a council, standing committees and six state committees.

Similarly, the New Zealand Reference Committee, formed in 1932, had its status raised when it provisionally became the New Zealand Regional Council (NZRC) in 1948. The NZRC was formally inaugurated in 1951.

The above regional councils were established by the RCOG to further the objects of the College in Australia and New Zealand.*

*Super Ardua: The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Australia, 1929-79, McDonald, Cope & Forster

College chronology

Our College chronology tracks the history of the College, dating back to 1929 up until the purchase of College House.

1920s

13 February 1929
Formation of the British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the United Kingdom

1930s

1932
The British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists established the Dominion Reference Committees in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and South Africa. In Australia and New Zealand the committees were named the Australian Reference Committee and the New Zealand Reference Committee

3 December 1938
The British College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists renamed the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)

1940s

27 February 1947
The Australian Regional Council (later Australian Council) of the RCOG provisionally appointed (replacing the Australian Reference Committee)

October 1948
The New Zealand Regional Council (later New Zealand Council) of the RCOG provisionally established

May 1949
Official formation of the Australian Regional Council of the RCOG

1950s

1951
Inauguration of the New Zealand Regional Council of the RCOG

25 August 1954
Official opening of College House at 8 La Trobe Street, Melbourne (Australian Regional Council headquarters

1960s

20 March 1966
Name of the Australian Regional Council, RCOG changed to Australian Council, RCOG

1970s

6 May 1977
Formation of Steering Committee of the Proposed Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

16 July 1978
Meeting of the Signatories of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (first Executive elected at this meeting)

29 August 1978
The Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists legally incorporated

3 August 1979
Inaugural Ceremony of The Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

1980s

12 December 1980
The Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists granted the prefix ‘Royal’ and renamed The Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG)

9 December 1981
Purchase of property at 254 Albert Street, East Melbourne, as a future headquarters of the RACOG

January 1982
The New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists formed and registered as a company

24 November 1983
Official opening of College House at 254 Albert Street, East Melbourne

March 1984
The New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists granted the prefix ‘Royal’ and renamed The Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZCOG)

1986
Implementation of RACOG Continuing Certification Program

23 July 1988
Celebration of Tenth Anniversary of the RACOG and the Official Opening of College House extensions (including the Members Room incorporating the Library)

1990s

7 January 1991
Purchase of the property at 260 Albert Street, East Melbourne

24 March 1991
Official opening of 260 Albert Street, East Melbourne

19 July 1995
The Library officially named the Frank Forster Library

21 June 1997
Official Opening of College House renovations

24 October 1997
Official opening of the Museum

23 October 1998
RACOG amalgamated with the RNZCOG to form The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)

Coat of Arms

Following amalgamation of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG) and the Royal New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RNZCOG) in 1998, the Coat of Arms of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) was adopted in July 2004. Designed by John Hiscock of The House of Heraldry, in collaboration with artist Paul Sicher, the RANZCOG Coat of Arms incorporates elements from the Coats of Arms of the two former colleges.

View the heraldic description of the Coat of Arms and more detail about the former RANZCOG Coat of Arms.

College House

Initially the College occupied premises at ‘old’ College House, 8 Latrobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria. In 1983 the College moved to 254 Albert Street, East Melbourne, built in 1873. An additional wing, which included the Frank Forster Library, was added in 1988. The building at 260 Albert Street was purchased in 1991 and the buildings underwent further renovations in 1997.

Having steadily expanded our services and workforce since then, in 2021 the College moved across the river to Djeembana (College Place), at 1 Bowen Crescent, Naarm (Melbourne).

Historical Museum Collection

Originally housed in an onsite museum that was closed to make room for a growing work force at College House, RANZCOG holds an extensive collection of historical O&G instruments and artefacts offsite. A key feature is a significant collection of obstetric forceps dating from the mid-18th century to the present day. The advances in obstetric teaching, neonatal investigation, as well as fertility investigation, infertility treatment and contraception are represented in the RANZCOG Museum collection.

The RANZCOG Museum collection has been digitally catalogued and interested Trainees, Fellows, researchers and curators can view the Museum collection online.

Frank Forster library

The Frank Forster Library is a historical library with collection strengths in the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology, women’s health, sex education and birth control. The library comprises a general collection and a rare book collection. The general collection is a broad collection holding titles from Australia, New Zealand and overseas. The rare book collection contains many rare antiquarian books dating from the 16th century.

The Frank Forster Library is one of the finest obstetrical and gynaecological collections in the world.

History

The original Library was established in 1954, with a donation of 20 rare antiquarian books from the RCOG in London. This generous donation was made to the Australian Regional Council of the RCOG on the occasion of the Opening of College House at 8 Latrobe Street, Melbourne.

In 1987 Dr Frank Forster offered his extensive medical history collection of books, journals, pamphlets and prints to the RACOG. The College accepted Dr Forster’s gracious bequest and an additional wing was built in 1988 to accommodate the collection at the new College House in Albert Street, East Melbourne. After Dr Forster passed away in March 1995, the library was officially named the Frank Forster Library, in his memory.

General collection

The strength of the general collection lies in titles published in Australia and New Zealand in the areas of obstetrics, gynaecology, women’s health, sex education and birth control. The collection also includes significant publications from all over the world.

Rare book collection

The rare book collection holds many rare antiquarian books dating from the 16th century. Subjects include obstetrics, gynaecology, women’s health, sex education and birth control.

The collection includes books published in Germany, France, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Of great interest is the unique collection of scarce Australian and New Zealand pamphlets dating from 1900 to 1955.

Highlights of the rare books collection

A Renaissance illustrated anatomical book
ANZJOG 2004; 44: 378-379 – Fay Bower

The earliest publication held in the Frank Forster Library is: La dissection des parties du corps humain diuisee en trois liures faictz par Charles Estienne docteur en Medecine: avec les figures & declaratio des incisions, composees par Estienne de la Riviere chirurgien. This book is the most fully illustrated of the pre-Vesalian anatomies and is a landmark publication as one of the finest anatomical works of the 16th century.

David D. Davis’s Obstetric Textbook and Atlas
ANZJOG 2003; 43: 338-340 – Fay Bower

David D. Davis (1777-1841) was the physician-accoucher in attendance to the Duchess of Kent when she gave birth to a daughter – the future Queen Victoria. Davis was a prolific writer on the subject of obstetrics and his classes were so well attended that the venues had to be changed to accommodate the large number of students. His obstetric textbook and atlas is beautifully illustrated with detailed lithographic prints.

Early Dutch obstetric atlas
ANZJOG 2004; 44: 86-87 – Fay Bower

Published in 1793, this rare Dutch obstetric atlas titled Obstetric observations and illustrations of a pregnant womb was purchased by the College in 2002. Written by Folkert (Volkert) Snip (1733-1771), illustrated by Maerten Houtman and engraved by de Bakker. The four plates are dated 1767 and show the dissections of the pregnant uterus, each from a slightly different angle.

Early 18th century French obstetric textbook
ANZJOG 2003; 43: 262-63 – Fay Bower

Angelique Marguerite de Boursier du Coudray was a certificated midwife working in Paris from 1740. King Louis XV and his ministers were concerned with the declining birthrate in France so Madame du Coudray was, according to the script beneath her portrait, ‘pensioned and sent by the King to teach the practice of midwifery throughout the realm’ which she did from 1760 to 1783. To facilitate her teaching du Coudray wrote a textbook in simple language and included colour-coded illustrations to assist the learning process.

View an excerpt from the book

Early obstetric atlas
ANZJOG 2003; 43: 96 – Fay Bower

This fascinating early obstetric atlas is remarkable in that some of the illustrations incorporate lift-up sections or ‘flaps’ – what we now know as ‘pop-up books’. This atlas by George Spratt and entitled Obstetric tables was published in many editions in both the US and Great Britain. This second edition is dated 1837.

View an excerpt from the book