2003 saw the 50th anniversary of Australian Lapidary and it seems appropriate to have a look at the origins of the hobby in Victoria.

The idea for the first Lapidary Club in Victoria was born early one night in 1959 during the Federal Retail Jeweller’s Conference in Melbourne, when one of the Queensland delegates showed two velvet lined boxes of beautifully coloured cabochon-cut Queensland agates.

On seeing these, Merna and Ted Koller knew that these stones were the answer to an extra activity for members of the Gemmological Association, and the very next morning they started moving for the formation of a Lapidary Club.

At a meeting held on 7 April 1959 at the Allied Jewel Centre, 316 Victoria St Richmond, the following people met to discuss formation of the Victorian Gem Club: Mr J Holdsworth (President of the GAA, Victorian Branch), Mrs E Classon, Miss E Almond, Mrs V Arnold, E Elks, Mr B Funston, A Greenhut, Mr T Koller, E Mollison, Dr Rochlin, Mr & Mrs Shannon, B Sprigg and A Wheeler.

Consequently, Mr Ted Koller was elected Chairman, Mrs Merna Koller, Secretary, and C Fletcher, Treasurer. Membership fee was one guinea.

Other early members who contributed strongly to development of the Club were Val and Wally Arnold, Bob Davidson, Elyse Classon, Bruce Hardie, Max Lord and many others.

A room in the AJC building was leased to the GAA for the Gem Club and it was agreed to purchase two grinding heads, and a fee for using the equipment was struck. Field days were commenced.

June 1960: The Allied Jewel Centre agreed to rent the annexe at the back of the building for a cutting room, and this was ready for use in February 1961. At this stage there were 50 financial members.

May 1962: An exhibition of member’s gemstone collections was held in the Royal Arcade, Melbourne, and was sponsored by the GAA. This exhibition attracted many new members, including Chas and Myrtle Jewell and Ron Aspin (These names will be familiar to older hands - Ed).

1963: Cutting competitions were started and a diamond saw purchased. In November, a second exhibition was held at the State Savings Bank head office in Melbourne.

January 1964: A field day was held with the newly formed Morwell Club, which had been assisted in its formation by the Victorian Gem Club. In 1964 the Club held its first geology and silversmithing courses.

May 1965: The GAA library was ready for use and the following month, Mr Cyril Kovac was appointed Publicity Officer for the Club.

March 1966: Name of the Club was changed to the GAA Gem Club of Victoria. In November, a new magazine (The Gemhunter) offered a prize to a member of a gem club who found the best new location for field days.

June 1967: Mrs Jean Culley mooted the idea of a GEMBOREE-type event. At a meeting on 16 September 1967, 12 members from 11 Clubs attended a meeting and decided to hold the function on March Labour Day weekend in 1968. Reg Mether of Moe was elected President of this committee (This eventually became the Victorian Gem Clubs Association - Ed), Frank McDonnell of Frankston was Vice President, Jean Culley and Bert Thorpe of the GAA were Secretary and Treasurer, and Tony Annear of Nunawading was Publicity Officer. It was decided not to use the word GEMBOREE, but to have a competition in Gemhunter magazine for an appropriate name - which was “Gemkhana”. A special loan of $5 was given to the committee by the GAA.

July 1969: It was agreed that the Club run a faceting course (The first in Australia? - Ed). Ron Aspin compiled the necessary information and in 1970 two faceting machines were purchased. In June 1979, a Jewellery course and two faceting courses were held, the faceting instructors being Ron Aspin and Chas Jewel.

1975 to 1978: It was 1975 before the Club held its next exhibition - at the Macleay Park Scout Hall, North Balwyn. It had become an annual event with the last two being held at the Richmond High School.

The GAA Gem Club has played an important role in the development of Lapidary in Victoria and throughout Australia including a total of 43 Lapidary Clubs in Victoria (of which 33 are still in operation). The result was the formation for the VGCA (Victorian Gem Clubs Assocation) which led to the formation of the national body 30 years ago called AFLACA (Australian Federation of Lapidary and Allied Crafts Assocation).