Louis M Whyte (Ad Astra Sept, 1969).
Like his father Louis Australia Whyte before him, Louis Melville Whyte studied at the Geelong College from 1900 to 1908. As the only son, he inherited the Geelong property ‘The Heights’ from his mother ‘Minna’ Whyte which he, in turn, eventually bequeathed to the National Trust. He married Ella ‘Marnie’ Layton nee Wyett.
The existence on the current site of the Preparatory School is largely due to the generosity and benefaction of Louis Whyte. In January 1945 the School Council purchased from Louis Whyte about 15 acres of land between Minerva Rd and the Barwon River at a price of £500 per acre. The next year another purchase of 19.2 acres was made to be followed by a donation of 15 acres of riverfront land by Louis Whyte. The land acquired from Louis in total was about 49 acres. This was eventually to become the site of the ‘new’ Preparatory School opened in 1960.
Sources: Ad Astra September 1969.