It was recorded in his army records that Ernest Harold Gowty attended the Flinders State School in the early 1900’s
FLINDERS NATIONAL SCHOOL-
HISTORY
The
Matthew Flinders School was built as the Flinders National Grammar School in
Little Ryrie Street, Geelong in 1856-7.
The
initiative of a group of prominent citizens of Geelong in 1854 to provide
non-secular education for children resulted in its construction, at a time when
the majority of existing schools were either privately owned or specifically
denominational.
The
Government granted the land, and money was raised for the construction of a
National School by a committee formed for this purpose. This included Dr
Alexander Thompson who was reportedly responsible for the first school in Port
Phillip at the corner of William and Little Lonsdale Streets in 1838, before
himself settling in Geelong.
Local
architects, Backhouse and Reynolds, were responsible for the design, and the
foundation stone was laid by Major-General Macarthur, the Acting
Lieutenant-Governor, in December, 1856.
Not
satisfied with naming it the Geelong National School, it was at this ceremony
that Macarthur asked permission to name it the Flinders National Grammar
School, inspired by the explorer of Corio Bay.
This
school was conducted as a boys school until 1864 when girls were first
enrolled.
Increasing
attendances necessitated extensive additions in 1880 and the school became officially
known as the Flinders State School.
A further
name change occurred in 1940 when it became the Matthew Flinders Girls' School,
and in 1950 it was the first Victorian government school to enter pupils for
the Girls' School Leaving Certificate. At this time it became known as the
Matthew Flinders Girls' Secondary School.
The
original cement rendered masonry building comprised a dominant central tower
with bell cast roof, flanked by wings, themselves linked by arcading. The
symmetrically composed main facade incorporated quoining, a heavily rusticated
base and under eave brackets. Italianate in design, extensive additions in 1880
maintained this style, increasing the height of the central section, including
the tower, which incorporated a platform with iron balustrading. Details were
retained and duplicated at this stage. Internal alterations, including
significant window changes in the side wings, were made in 1915-6 and
substantial flanking wings were added in 1956 to celebrate the centenary of the
school. All these subsequent additions have been sympathetic, and the main
facade retains the original, Italianate character. A substantial three- storey
wing was constructed to the south of the main building in 1974.
Matthew
Flinders School is of architectural significance as an important work of
Geelong architects, Backhouse and Reynolds and as one of the finest of the
early National schools constructed in Victoria. Despite subsequent alterations,
the character of the original building has been retained.
Matthew
Flinders School is of historical significance due to its association with the
early development of education in Geelong and the specific education, within
the State system, of girls from the mid 20th century.
It is
also historically significant for its associations with prominent
educationalists, such as Alexander Thompson, who established the school and
George Morrison, the second headmaster, who established the Geelong College in
1861 and was its first principal.
Important
students include;
Professor
William Charles Kernot (1845-1909), the first professor of engineering at
Melbourne University in 1883,
Theodore
Fink (1855-1942), politician and educationalist
Sir Harry
Brookes Allen (1854-1926), who became the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Melbourne
University in 1886.
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