A group of physicians established The Association of Physicians of Australasia for 'friendship and scientific stimulus’.

Premises at 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney, were purchased by Trustees on behalf of the College. The building was originally the home of the Fairfax family, famous for its association with the Sydney Morning Herald.

Funds for the purchase were donated by the NSW Government, Foundation Fellows and other benefactors.

The College was incorporated and the first meeting of the Council was held.

The motto Hominum servire saluti — To serve the health of our people, was adopted for the College coat of arms.

47 candidates from Australia and Aotearoa NZ took the first membership examinations and 41 members were admitted.

Howard Florey carried out the first ever clinical trials of penicillin. By D-Day 1944, the new drug was in military use for treating war wounds. In 1945, he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Sir Ernst Chain and Sir Alexander Fleming for his role in the drugs development.

At 145 Macquarie Street, we have a culture vessel used for the growing of mould juice during the trials at Oxford.

Sir Howard Florey became an Honorary Fellow of the RACP.

The College’s first scientific journal, Proceedings of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, was published.

This was succeeded by The Australasian Annals of Medicine, later renamed The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine, and now the Internal Medicine Journal.

The library acquired valuable Renaissance, 17th and 18th century books from the College of Physicians in London.

The Hospital Accreditation Committee was set up to consider the training and recognition of specialist physicians.

John D. Hunter was appointed the first Director of Continuing Education.

The RACP’s Golden Jubilee was celebrated at the Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney with 4,000 attendees.

The Maintenance of Professional Standards (MOPS) Program, now MyCPD, began.

The first Dean, Kevin Forsyth was appointed and the College Deanery was established to oversee both training and continuing professional development.

The RACP Foundation took on administration for the majority of awards across the Divisions, Faculties and Chapters.

As coronavirus sweeps the world, the College quickly adapts to changes in our hospitals, medical training and education programs. 

During this extraordinary public health crisis, our members lead the way in evolving models of care, research and new advocacy efforts.