Historical information

In 1883 the Ballarat School of Mines made some changes in order to make better use of the services of the teachers and to extend "as far as practicable the special educational advantages already afforded" by the School. One of the changes was the introduction of a three years course of training under the professors to qualify students for the following three professions: Analyst and Metallurgist, Electrician, and Geologist and Mining Surveyor. The Council was to confer the distinction of Associate. (Warren Perry, The School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat, 1984, p77)

Students who took single subjects or pursued such courses as those for certificate of either mine manager or assayer were not required to pass an entrance examination. Students who wished to qualify for an associateship in once of the courses were expected to have a general education of matriculation standard and to have attended all the prescribed courses of instruction unless they were able to produce to the satisfaction of the School's Board of Examiners evidence of having attained elsewhere the degree of proficiency which was required in any particular subject or subjects. (Warren Perry, The School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat, 1984, p177)

Ballarat School of Mines Associateships have been conferred since 1894 on candidates who had passed the prescribed examinations in one or other of the following three courses: Geology, Metallurgy and Mining engineering. Each of these three courses had an additional, but optional, fourth year of study. The prescribed subjects of study for an Associateship were set out in 'The Calendar of the Ballarat School of Mines' in each year. (Warren Perry, The School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat, 1984, p177)

Physical description

A number of timber boards with gold lettering. The list names in date order of when they became an Associates of the Ballarat School of Mines.