H. Hugh Corbin at the University of Adelaide School of Forestry, 1912–1925

Abstract

Hugh Corbin developed the first degree-level university-affiliated forestry course in Australia as Lecturer in Forestry at the University of Adelaide. From its beginnings in 1912 to 1925, the University of Adelaide graduated twenty forestry professionals. Simultaneously Corbin was busy with promotional, consultancy and research work. The future of the school became entwined in the protracted debate over a central forestry school for all Australia. For a time Corbin believed Adelaide would fill this role, but this proved a forlorn hope—in 1925 the Adelaide course closed after it was announced that the Commonwealth Government would fund a new Australian Forestry School, whereupon he departed to become Professor of Forestry at Auckland University College in New Zealand.