Sir John Monash - scholar, engineer and legendary Australian - has been formally recognised by the Victorian Government with the former South Eastern Freeway, which connects Melbourne to Victoria’s southeastern suburbs, renamed in his honour.

Professor Peter Darvall, Monash University’s deputy vice-chancellor, Research & Development, said it was fitting that the university’s namesake be honoured in this way.

"There are many good reasons why the South Eastern Freeway was renamed Monash Freeway. Sir John Monash had a strong history of helping the wider community and there are many connections between Sir John, the region and the freeway itself," he said

Born on 27 June 1865 in West Melbourne, of German-Polish Jewish parents, Sir John made many contributions to society, among them forming the Australian Zionist Federation early in the 20th century and serving with great distinction as a military commander during World War 1.

By 1895, Sir John had completed degrees in arts, engineering and law and had also qualified as a municipal surveyor, an engineer of water supply and a patent attorney and had started a private practice as a civil engineer, specialising in the new technology of reinforced concrete.

It is only through this technology, pioneered by many engineers, including Sir John Monash, that the building of the Monash Freeway was possible, Professor Darvall pointed out.

According to Professor Darvall, links with Sir John’s eminence in many different fields such as engineering, construction and scholarship can be found along the route the freeway takes.

"The freeway runs past the Anderson Street (Morell) Bridge, the first reinforced concrete bridge in Victoria, and past Scotch College, the school of which he was dux in 1881. The route proceeds through the City of Monash and past Monash University," he said.

"Finally it leads to Gippsland where Sir John, as chairman of the State Electricity Commission, developed the Latrobe Valley coal fields into a source of power for Victoria."

Professor Darvall believes the Monash Freeway, part of a larger City Link project initiative by the Victorian Government, is an appropriate extension of the use of Monash’s name within the area.

"Monash University was the first Australian university to be named after a prominent Australian and, in turn, it has given its name to the surrounding city. Now the freeway which runs past the university and through the city has also taken on the name," he said.

- Derek Brown

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