About
This web-site has been constructed to make available to all former students, teachers, principals and other interested parties, the history of a school that was closed and demolished without thought being given to the needs of the wider community, and the ever-increasing population of the State of Victoria. A population that has been deprived of a magnificent Public Secondary Education facility in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
The Brighton Technical School, (Boys’ School), located in Berwick Street, Brighton, Victoria, was officially opened on the 28th. July, 1922, by the Minister for Education, Sir Alexander Peacock. At the same time the foundation stone for the work-shops to be erected at the School, was laid by Mr. Snowball, M.L.A.
At the opening ceremony the School was described as “One of the Finest Schools.”
The Brighton Technical School, (Girls’ School), a Victorian era villa named “Cora Lynn”, at 45 Cochrane Street, Brighton, was officially opened on the 12th. December, 1924 by Lady Stradbroke. She was welcomed by Mr. Snowball M.L.A., the Mayor of Brighton, Councillor J. A. Grant, and the Head Master, Mr. Clark R. Fraser.
The Girls’ Technical School was regarded as “one of the best equipped schools of its kind in Victoria.”
Both of the Schools, Boys’ and Girls’ had been functioning for many months before their official openings.
The organisation known as the Brighton Technical School continued to operate until it was closed by the Labor Party Government of the State of Victoria in December, 1991, when Joan Kirner was State Premier.
However, due to a political decision made by the Labor Party Government in 1989, the name of the Brighton Technical School was changed to “Brighton Bay Secondary College.”
The notice of “Change of Name” appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette : No. G 50 on 20 December, 1989, page 3294, at which time Joan Kirner, M.L.A., was the Minister for Education.
Under the Education Act of 1958, notices relevant to the closure of Brighton Bay Secondary College, appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette on the 18th. December, 1991. Victorian Government Gazette No. G 49, Wednesday, 18 December, 1991, page 3517.
INDEX : VICTORIA GOVERNMENT GAZETTE : VOL. 3 OF 1991. Page 8.
EDUCATION ACT.
“Notice of Making an Order under Section 13(1), Section 13(4), and
Section 13(5) of the Education Act.”
………………………….
“Page 3517. G 49, 18 December, 1991.
Education Act 1958.
NOTICE OF MAKING OF AN ORDER UNDER SECTION 13(4) OF THE ACT.
Pursuant to section 13 of the Education Act 1958 I hereby give notice that an Order of the Governor in Council was made on 10 December 1991 under sub-section (4) of the said Act amending certain provisions of the constitution of the school council listed below –
7055 Brighton Bay Secondary College Council.
20160. BARRY PULLEN.
Minister for Education and Training.”
…………………………..
(Barry Pullen was a member of the Victorian Labor Party State Government in 1991).
Section 13(1), Section 13(4) and Section (5) of the Education Act 1958 relate to “Vesting of property in Minister”, “Agreements and arrangements concerning the use of property” and “Transfer of staff from school councils etc.”.
……………………………
As I attended the Brighton Technical School during the years 1945, 1946 and 1947, I have always been interested in the history of the school, and have fond and lasting memories of the magnificent school building – “Cora Lynn”, the Victorian era villa in which the girls’ school was located, at 45 Cochrane Street, Brighton.
“Cora Lynn” was set in a spacious well-established garden, most likely set out and planted when the house was built by John McGee in 1878. He planted numerous botanical species of trees fashionable in that era, believing they would grace his garden for a hundred years or more. Even in 1991 when the School closed, one of the most impressive old trees was a Koelreuteria paniculata, more commonly referred to as the ‘goldenrain tree’. The tree flowered in the month of January, during school holidays, when the students were not at school to see it in its golden glory. I can remember, as a teenager, riding my bicycle to “Cora Lynn” during the January holidays and jumping the front fence to view the beauty of this rare tree. Most former students of “Cora Lynn” developed a love of nature and an appreciation of the beauty of a garden, due to the horticulture lessons, and spending at least three years studying in its tranquil atmosphere.
The main building of the boys’ school was an impressive, large double-storey brick building with expanses of striking, white painted wooden-framed windows set into the solid red brick walls. The School was built in a spacious setting, providing scope for the thousands of vigorous young students who passed through it doors during the seventy years it provided quality, low cost secondary education.
The site of the two schools combined was in the vicinity of eight acres in size. The land was level and well drained – a perfect place for sporting facilities to be developed, and within walking distance of the North Brighton Railway Station and the magical Brighton Baths, set on the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay.
In 1912, the goal of having a fine Public Secondary Education facility in Brighton developed in the minds of the honorable and diligent Councillors of the progressive district of Brighton. The Victorian State Government representatives for Brighton were also behind the proposal, and willing to form a team with the citizens to bring their dream to fruition.
Ten years later, after overcoming numerous major obstacles, their goal was realized. The Boys’ School officially opened in 1922 and the Girls’ School officially opened in 1924.
Many generous donations were made towards the school project, both by the Councillors of the day and private citizens. The fulfilment of their farsighted plans was made possible by determined well-meaning citizens who were leaders in the field of hard work. Striving for Public Secondary Education for the young people of Brighton, and the surrounding districts, was unique at that time when most other districts had only Public Primary School Education to offer.
When I learned that Brighton Technical School was closed by the Education Department in 1991, and the buildings had been totally demolished in 1995, to make way for an exclusive housing development, I could not comprehend how such decisions could be made, and wondered who made those decisions.
After all, the Brighton Technical School was a major Public Asset that had served the community well for 70 years.
For nearly two decades I pondered on the injustice of the destruction of a school that so many people had worked so hard to establish. It was then that I decided to research, in detail, the events that led to the closure of the School, and the names of the people who brought about the loss of such a magnificent education facility.
It is proposed to make available to all interested parties, via this website, digitized copies of “Sea Spray” - “Seaspray”, the Brighton Technical School, (Brighton Bay Secondary College), Annual Magazine, relevant photographs and documents, free of cost.
We have lost our School.
May its memories live on.
Shirley Joy.
18 January, 2017.
A book, “Brighton Technical School History” has been written, but will not be available for several months. When it has been completed, it will be available on this website, free of cost.
The Brighton Technical School, (Boys’ School), located in Berwick Street, Brighton, Victoria, was officially opened on the 28th. July, 1922, by the Minister for Education, Sir Alexander Peacock. At the same time the foundation stone for the work-shops to be erected at the School, was laid by Mr. Snowball, M.L.A.
At the opening ceremony the School was described as “One of the Finest Schools.”
The Brighton Technical School, (Girls’ School), a Victorian era villa named “Cora Lynn”, at 45 Cochrane Street, Brighton, was officially opened on the 12th. December, 1924 by Lady Stradbroke. She was welcomed by Mr. Snowball M.L.A., the Mayor of Brighton, Councillor J. A. Grant, and the Head Master, Mr. Clark R. Fraser.
The Girls’ Technical School was regarded as “one of the best equipped schools of its kind in Victoria.”
Both of the Schools, Boys’ and Girls’ had been functioning for many months before their official openings.
The organisation known as the Brighton Technical School continued to operate until it was closed by the Labor Party Government of the State of Victoria in December, 1991, when Joan Kirner was State Premier.
However, due to a political decision made by the Labor Party Government in 1989, the name of the Brighton Technical School was changed to “Brighton Bay Secondary College.”
The notice of “Change of Name” appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette : No. G 50 on 20 December, 1989, page 3294, at which time Joan Kirner, M.L.A., was the Minister for Education.
Under the Education Act of 1958, notices relevant to the closure of Brighton Bay Secondary College, appeared in the Victorian Government Gazette on the 18th. December, 1991. Victorian Government Gazette No. G 49, Wednesday, 18 December, 1991, page 3517.
INDEX : VICTORIA GOVERNMENT GAZETTE : VOL. 3 OF 1991. Page 8.
EDUCATION ACT.
“Notice of Making an Order under Section 13(1), Section 13(4), and
Section 13(5) of the Education Act.”
………………………….
“Page 3517. G 49, 18 December, 1991.
Education Act 1958.
NOTICE OF MAKING OF AN ORDER UNDER SECTION 13(4) OF THE ACT.
Pursuant to section 13 of the Education Act 1958 I hereby give notice that an Order of the Governor in Council was made on 10 December 1991 under sub-section (4) of the said Act amending certain provisions of the constitution of the school council listed below –
7055 Brighton Bay Secondary College Council.
20160. BARRY PULLEN.
Minister for Education and Training.”
…………………………..
(Barry Pullen was a member of the Victorian Labor Party State Government in 1991).
Section 13(1), Section 13(4) and Section (5) of the Education Act 1958 relate to “Vesting of property in Minister”, “Agreements and arrangements concerning the use of property” and “Transfer of staff from school councils etc.”.
……………………………
As I attended the Brighton Technical School during the years 1945, 1946 and 1947, I have always been interested in the history of the school, and have fond and lasting memories of the magnificent school building – “Cora Lynn”, the Victorian era villa in which the girls’ school was located, at 45 Cochrane Street, Brighton.
“Cora Lynn” was set in a spacious well-established garden, most likely set out and planted when the house was built by John McGee in 1878. He planted numerous botanical species of trees fashionable in that era, believing they would grace his garden for a hundred years or more. Even in 1991 when the School closed, one of the most impressive old trees was a Koelreuteria paniculata, more commonly referred to as the ‘goldenrain tree’. The tree flowered in the month of January, during school holidays, when the students were not at school to see it in its golden glory. I can remember, as a teenager, riding my bicycle to “Cora Lynn” during the January holidays and jumping the front fence to view the beauty of this rare tree. Most former students of “Cora Lynn” developed a love of nature and an appreciation of the beauty of a garden, due to the horticulture lessons, and spending at least three years studying in its tranquil atmosphere.
The main building of the boys’ school was an impressive, large double-storey brick building with expanses of striking, white painted wooden-framed windows set into the solid red brick walls. The School was built in a spacious setting, providing scope for the thousands of vigorous young students who passed through it doors during the seventy years it provided quality, low cost secondary education.
The site of the two schools combined was in the vicinity of eight acres in size. The land was level and well drained – a perfect place for sporting facilities to be developed, and within walking distance of the North Brighton Railway Station and the magical Brighton Baths, set on the eastern shore of Port Phillip Bay.
In 1912, the goal of having a fine Public Secondary Education facility in Brighton developed in the minds of the honorable and diligent Councillors of the progressive district of Brighton. The Victorian State Government representatives for Brighton were also behind the proposal, and willing to form a team with the citizens to bring their dream to fruition.
Ten years later, after overcoming numerous major obstacles, their goal was realized. The Boys’ School officially opened in 1922 and the Girls’ School officially opened in 1924.
Many generous donations were made towards the school project, both by the Councillors of the day and private citizens. The fulfilment of their farsighted plans was made possible by determined well-meaning citizens who were leaders in the field of hard work. Striving for Public Secondary Education for the young people of Brighton, and the surrounding districts, was unique at that time when most other districts had only Public Primary School Education to offer.
When I learned that Brighton Technical School was closed by the Education Department in 1991, and the buildings had been totally demolished in 1995, to make way for an exclusive housing development, I could not comprehend how such decisions could be made, and wondered who made those decisions.
After all, the Brighton Technical School was a major Public Asset that had served the community well for 70 years.
For nearly two decades I pondered on the injustice of the destruction of a school that so many people had worked so hard to establish. It was then that I decided to research, in detail, the events that led to the closure of the School, and the names of the people who brought about the loss of such a magnificent education facility.
It is proposed to make available to all interested parties, via this website, digitized copies of “Sea Spray” - “Seaspray”, the Brighton Technical School, (Brighton Bay Secondary College), Annual Magazine, relevant photographs and documents, free of cost.
We have lost our School.
May its memories live on.
Shirley Joy.
18 January, 2017.
A book, “Brighton Technical School History” has been written, but will not be available for several months. When it has been completed, it will be available on this website, free of cost.