JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter I - 'Beginning of the College'.The following text is an excerpt from the
Jubilee History Text published in 1911.
Beginning of The College 'It was to the troubles which afflicted Geelong Grammar School at the outset of its career that the establishment of the Geelong College was immediately due. The Grammar School was opened in 1858, but financial trials led to it being closed in the middle of 1860. The absence of any other school than Flinders National School was sorely felt by parents who wished their boys to have a better education than it provided. Certainly the National School was a very fine one, and was under the headmastership of a splendid schoolmaster—Mr. George Morrison, M.A.—but something more was needed. That was the opinion of the Rev. A. J. Campbell, who had come to Geelong in 1859 asminister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church. He found many who agreed with him, and he convened a meeting of those interested, from whom a committee was formed to consider the question.
This committee brought forward the following proposal:
1. That the English Grammar School be reopened as a united school under the auspices of the Church of England and the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
2. That within a fixed date these churches shall pay half each of £7,000, which sum it is understood the creditors are willing to accept in full payment of the debt lying on the institution.
3. That the School shall be governed by a Council consisting of six Church of England gentlemen and six Presbyterians.
4. That the Principal shall be appointed by the Assemblies of the two churches alternately, and the masters be nominated by the Principal, such nomination to be submitted to the Council for confirmation.
The Church of England authorities in Geelong agreed to the proposal and the way seemed easy. But there were lions in the path. The ruling authorities of the church would have nothing, to do with it. They found technical reasons for their refusal and the proposal was withdrawn. . The Presbyterians were bitterly disappointed, but at once set about the establishment of a College of their own.
At a meeting of the committee, held on 18th April, 1861, the Rev. A. J. Campbell explained that he had brought thematter before the Presbyterian General Assembly, and that they fully approved of the establishment in Geelong of a school in connection with the Presbyterian body. The committee approved of this idea and resolved:
1st. That this meeting considers it highly desirable that a Grammar School should be immediately established in Geelong.
2nd. That the said Grammar School shall be conducted under the auspices of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria.
3rd. That the following Committee be appointed to make all necessary inquiries, and report to a future meeting, viz.: Messrs. John Calvert, James Simson, James Cowie, James Balfour, A. S. Robertson, William Blair, J. T. McKerras, the Revs. A. Love, A. J. Campbell. James Henderson, T. McK. Frazer, and Mr. James Campbell.
The Rev. A. J. Campbell was the chairman of that meeting, which took the first definite step towards founding the Geelong College. Mr. James Campbell agreed to act as Secretary of the committee, while the most energeticmember of the committee was Mr. William Blair.
Inquiries were made by Mr. Blair as to the rules governing the Scotch College in Melbourne, and at a meeting of the committee, on 25th April, a subcommittee was appointed to draw up a draft constitution. The subcommittee consisted of the Rev. Messrs. Campbell, Frazer, and Henderson, Messrs. Blair, Robertson, Balfour, and James Campbell. A number of other influential gentlemen were nominated to the general committee, and it was agreed to ask them to attend its next meeting. The subcommittee met in the Presbyterian Schoolroom, at Newtown. They prepared a draft constitution and submitted it to the general committee at its next meeting on 30th April. No time was allowed to waste. These men were all in earnest.
When the committee met on 30th April, at 81 Moorabool Street, Dr. Shaw, Dr. Carstairs, and Mr. A. W. Tolmie attended. They were three of the new members who had been selected to join it. Events were hurried on. Mr. George Morrison had won such high approval as headmaster of Flinders School that everybodyfelt that he must be secured as principal of the new college. After it had been decided to call the school "The Geelong College." and to constitute it according to the draft submitted by the subcommittee, it was resolved "that Mr. George Morrison, M.A., be requested to accept of the office of Principal of the Geelong College." Messrs. Simson, Balfour and the Rev. A. J. Campbell were appointed a sub committee "to confer with Mr. Morrison in reference to the above appointment, and to consult and arrange as to fees and other arrangements."
Three days later that subcommittee reported to the committee that Mr. Morrison had accepted. Knowle House had already been selected as the most suitable place in which to inaugurate the school. It was a twostoried building at the eastern end of Skene Street. It was recognised that it was not particularly suitable for a school, but it was thought that it might serve to house the new college for the first two years of its existence. At the meeting on 3rd May it was decided that a two years' lease of Knowle House should be taken in the name of the committee, and the place sublet to Mr. Morrison. The College was to be furnished by the committee, and Mr. Morrison was to pay 10 per cent. on the cost. He was also, after the first year, to pay to the committee 10 per cent. of the annual receipts when they reached £1,200 a year. It was the declared intention of the committee toerect a special building for the College, and when that was accomplished the payment by the Principal was to be 12 per cent. on the gross income.
At its next meeting on 7th May themembers of the committee of management were elected, and a few trifling alterationsmade in the rules. The Presbytery of Geelong had appointed the Revs. Andrew Love, A. J. Campbell, and T. McK. Frazer as its representatives on the committee of management. Nine other gentlemen were selected. At a meeting a week later the constitution was ordered to be printed. The rules were models of simplicity. They were as follow:
The constitution of The College.
1. The name of this school shall be "The Geelong College, in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria."
2. TheobjectoftheCollegeshallbetoimpartafirstclass education,soastoprepareits pupilsfor mercantile pursuits, and for entering the University.
3. Boys of all religious denominations shall be admitted to the College. The Bible and the Westminster Assembly's Catechism shall form the basis of the religious instruction, but attendance on such religious instruction shall not be compulsory.
4. The College shall be under the management of a Committee of twelve gentlemen in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, three to form a quorum. With this Committee shall rest the appointment of the Principal, and the confirmation of the appointment of the other masters.
5. Of this Committee nine members shall be appointed annually by the subscribers, and three by the Presbytery of Geelong.
6. Twelve gentlemen shall also be elected annually by the subscribers as corresponding members of the Committee.
7. The scale of fees shall be regulated by the Committee of Management.
8. Scholarships, to be held by distinguished pupils during their attendance at the University, shall be founded as soon as practicable.
9. An annual meeting of the subscribers shall be held in the month of June, when a report for the previous twelvemonths shall be submitted, which report shall also be laid on the table of the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria at their annual meeting.
10. Every subscriber of one guinea annually shall be entitled to one vote; of five guineas to two votes; and of ten guineas or upwards to three votes, provided such subscription has been paid at least one month previous to the annual meeting.
11. No change shall be made upon these rules without the consent of two-thirds of the subscribers present at the annual meeting—notice of such alteration to be publicly advertised once, at least, one week before such meeting, but the first and third rules, being fundamental, are hereby declared unalterable.
In addition to the three Presbyterian ministers already mentioned, the following gentlemen were on the first committee of management:—
John Calvert, Esq., J.P.; A. S. Robertson, Esq., J.P.; J. G. Carstairs, M.D.; George Hope, Esq., J.P.; James Simson, Esq., J.P.; James Balfour, Esq., J.P.; Wm. Blair, Esq.; W. A. Tolmie, Esq.; James Campbell, Esq.
The Treasurer was Dr. Carstairs, and the Secretary Mr. James Campbell.
Everything was not yet settled. The actual terms of the agreement with Mr. Morrison had not all been definitely determined. He attended a meeting of the committee on 21st May and discussed the agreement; but a difficulty arose over the guarantee clause. At a subsequent meeting of the committee on 27th May a new clause was drafted. This was accepted by Mr. Morrison, and the agreement signed. Copies of the printed constitution, as well as a circular setting out the advantages of the College, had already been distributed wherever possible pupilsmight be obtained. Now an advertisement was inserted in the Geelong and Melbourne newspapers. After setting out the names of the committee of management, this advertisement read as follows:
This institution will be opened at Knowle House, Geelong. on Monday, 8th July next. It has been projected with a view to secure to Geelong and the Western District an establishment where a firstclass education, shall be imparted, so as to prepare its pupils for mercantile pursuits, and for entering the University.
The committee have been fortunate in obtaining the services of George Morrison, Esq., M.A., as Principal of the College, who will be assisted by competent masters. Boys of all religious denominations will be admitted to the College, but attendance in the religions instruction will not be compulsory.
Terms: Day scholars, 3 guineas per quarter; day boarders, 30 guineas per annum; resident boarders, including extras, 80 guineas per annum.
For prospectuses and other information apply to the Secretary, Mr. Campbell, 81 Moorabool Street, Geelong.
In order to extend as widely as possible the area to be drawn upon by the College, a "corresponding committee" was appointed. This was composed of gentlemen who would use their local influence in inducing neighbouringfamilies to send boys to fill the benches of the College. The members of the first "corresponding committee" were:—Messrs. Robert Adams, Skipton; George Russell, Shelford; JohnW. Strachan; Dr. Curdie, Camperdown; Dr. R. C. Hope, Batesford; Messrs. Hugh Murray, Colac; J. L. Curric, Cressy; Alex. Anderson, Skipton; John Cumming, Darlington; Peter McArthur. Camperdown; John Elder, Rokewood; and Dr. Thomas Shaw.
No committee meeting was held until 29th June, when Mr. Morrison attended and announced that he proposed to appoint two assistant masters. The committee gravely doubted whether he would have sufficient boys to carry on with two masters, but they had already learned to agree with all that Mr. Morrison proposed, and this was assented to. A meeting was held on 5th July, when it was seen that everything was in readiness for the opening day.
On Monday, 8th July, 1861, the Geelong College was formally "instituted." The ceremony took place at Knowle House at 11 o'clock in the morning. The members of the two committees were present, the parents of the pupils, a great many of their friends, Mr. Morrison and his two masters.—There were 40 pupils—13 were entered as resident boarders; 7 as day boarders; and 20 as day boys. The Rev. A. J. Campbell was in the chair. He began in true Presbyterian fashion with "praise and prayer and the reading of a portion of Scripture." He preached the boys a little sermon and concluded by saying, "Now, in the name of God, I hereby declare our new school, which is to be called 'the Geelong College,' fully established, and may God bless it with all possible success." Mr. Morrison then announced that school work would begin at 9 o'clock next morning, the benediction was pronounced, and the Geelong College had begun.'
Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 1-8.