History

Fifty years ago, two groups of prominent men met in Melbourne to redress a lack of management training in the post-war industrial era. Each group contained senior executives across the spectrum of top Australian companies as well as leading academics. They took divergent routes, established their institutions as leaders in their fields and, 50 years later, have come together to form the largest and most well-credentialed business school in Australia.

 

 Year

  MBS

  Mt. Eliza 

 

1954

Melbourne Business School is established as the Summer School of Business Administration at the University of Melbourne.

The idea for an executive education entity is germinated.

 

 

 

1955-1956

From 23 January to 2 March 1956, the first six-week residential program is run with 31 male participants paying a fee of £300.

On 21st Feb 1955, the Australian Administrative Staff College-later to become Mt Eliza Graduate School of Business-is incorporated as a company.

 

 

 

1957

 

The High Commissioner to Canada, Sir Douglas Copland, is appointed as the first principal. The first 12-week, fully residential session is run in September 1957 for 40 participants.

 

 

 

1958-1962

The program continues to grow, averaging 100 participants a year.

The college reduces sessions from 12 to 10 weeks and offers them three times each year, averaging 40 participants in each session. An intermediate course of four weeks is also offered twice a year to younger people with potential.

 

 

 

1964

A full-time academic staff of five is occasionally augmented by part-time or adjunct lecturers.

 

 

 

 

1970

The Federal government concludes the country only needs one national management school. AGSM is established.

 

 

 

 

1973

The Summer School and the Australian Administrative Staff College combine to form the Graduate School of Business Administration.

 

 

1978

John Rose joins the Graduate School of Business Administration.

 

 

1980-1984

The juggernaut that is to become known as "the five Johns" emerges.

 

 

1984-1986

The five Johns raise $10.5 million from prominent companies who become donor members of the new company. The school is built at 200 Leicester Street and opens in 1986.

 

 

1988

The Australian Administrative Staff College name is changed to The Australian Management College Mt. Eliza.

 

 

1999

Mt Eliza Business School separates from Monash.

 

 

2004

Melbourne Business School and Mt Eliza merge.

 

 

2009

Melbourne Business School and the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Economics and Commerce propose a merger.

On 30 September, 2009 Melbourne Business School announces the merger will not proceed and the school will operate under its existing structure.