Williamson, Herbert Bennett (1860 - 1931)

Born in Beechworth, Victoria, on 18 June 1860, died in Melbourne, Victoria, on 30 January 1931.

A school teacher who took a life-long interest in natural history, and made many collections throughout Victoria. These are now housed in MEL and MELU, with duplicates elsewhere, including A, AK, E, F, G, K, KIEL, MO, NH and NSW.

Honorary Keeper of the Herbarium at the Botany School, University of Melbourne from 1929-1931.

Collaborated with Ewart in the production of Flora of Victoria (1931), and contributed the whole of Leguminosae. Published a monograph of Pultenaea (1920-1928) and a guide to Victorian ferns (1926).

Source: Extracted from: A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS. [consult for source references]

Herbert Williamson was a school teacher and head master in a number of Victorian State Schools over a career spanning 49 years.

Interested in botany, he planted Acacias, Eucalypts and many other native species of trees and shrubs in the school grounds, and the schools were noted for their beautiful gardens.

Herbert Williamson was highly regarded as an amateur botanist. Knowing Ferdinand von Mueller helped him to gain an in-depth understanding of botany.

Williamson's detailed studies of the Victorian flora were published in several botanical journals and books, and he was a driving force behind the Victorian Field Naturalist's Club's Census of Victorian Plants (1928).

Source:Extracted from: https://researchdata.edu.au/herbert-bennett-williamson/12091
Portrait Photo: unknown source.

Collecting localities for 'Williamson, H.B.' from AVH (2025)

Data from 6,826 specimens