St Joseph's Technical School, Abbotsford
| St Joseph's Technical School, Abbotsford | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
|
Melbourne, Victoria Australia |
|
| Information | |
| Type | Independent technical secondary school for boys |
| Motto | "Magnus Labor Praiemium Maius" (Greater the effort, Greater the reward) |
| Established | 1930 |
| Founder | Irish Christian Brothers |
| Closed | 1990 |
| Campus | Abbotsford, Victoria |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic, Christian Brothers |
St Joseph's Technical School, Abbotsford traces its beginnings to the opening of St. Joseph's Primary School on the same site in 1893 and was operated in the tradition of the Christian Brothers as a school for boys. In 1930 its function changed to that of a technical school. The school was formally closed in 1990.
From its early beginnings as a primary school for boys the site was operated by the Christian Brothers following a tradition of rigorous teaching of both secular and religious subjects. At the first annual prize distribution night in December 1893 the local parish priest, the Rev. Peter Kernan, complimented the boys, the staff and the schools principal, Brother O'Hagan, on the fine progress they were making.
The education of girls in the local area was catered for by the Sisters of Charity, an order of nuns, who had opened St. Joseph's Primary School, Collingwood, just two years earlier. The nuns would remain in charge there from 1891 until 1993 when the first lay principal was engaged.
In its first year the boys school at Abbotsford operated from a two story, slate roofed, brick building which included a small chapel. Primary school level classes, from Year one to Year five, which itself was divided into a 'Lower Fifth' and 'Higher Fifth', were offered. The school inspectors report for 1893 regarded St. Joseph's as a school which had attained first class 'Standard of Proficiency'.
By 1908 the school enrolment had risen to 450 pupils and the annual prize distribution night at the Collingwood Town Hall had become an annual event. Not only did this recognise those boys who had achieved high academic placings but it was also something of a spectacle encompassing gymnastics, singing, recitations and theatrical performance.
A strong Australian Army Cadet unit operated sporadically for various years beginning around 1908 when it formed two Companies, A and B, of the 12th Victorian Battalion. A Cadet band operated during the 1960s and the Cadets themselves remained at the school well into the 1970s.
The school enrolment remained relatively stable for some years and by 1918 it stood at 450 pupils.
In March 1930 the structure of the school changed and it was renamed St. Joseph's Technical College, Abbotsford. By the end of that year it had an enrolment in the technical division of 104 students taught by four Christian Brothers who had trade skills experience. It was to be the second Catholic technical school to be established in Melbourne following St. Joseph's, South Melbourne. Its establishment, supported by Archbishop Daniel Mannix, was designed to cater for the needs of Catholic youth from the north of the city who were seeking a trade. Between 1930 and 1937 approximately 1400 students had passed through the two schools. Around 500 boys had passed the Junior Technical Certificate examination, while an equal number had satisfied the needs for gaining an apprenticeship.
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Wikipedia