Montose Primary School, Leith Road, Montrose, C.1910
Montrose is an outern eastern suburb of Melbourne, at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, about 33 kms from Melbourne.
The timber and corrugated iron roofed school building on Leith Road was already 30 years old.
The two teachers and the school’s 11 students at the time pose in the school’s gardens for a photograph by Mr H. L. Godden, with the hills of the Dandenongs for a back-drop. Please expand the photo to see the individual faces.
The school opened on June 9 1880 in response to a petition from residents who expressed a need for elementary education for the 67 children then residing in the broader area of southern Mooroolbark/Montrose.
The total establishment cost, including the classroom furniture and the teacher’s residential quarters was £152.3s 5d. Mr William Crellin was installed as the first Head Teacher of the school which was originally known as ‘Mooroolbark South’. The name was officially changed to ‘Montrose’ in 1900.
Some of the early students walked quite some distance through the bush to attend school… between 2 and 4 miles (3-6 kms).
The school provided education through to year 8. Most students did not go beyond this point with their education. Some of course left even earlier.
The Pupil‘s Register from the years 1914-1937 list parents occupations including… Coach driver, Blacksmith, Orchardist, Engine driver, Storekeeper, Brickmaker, Saw-miller and Farmer reflecting the make-up of the region at the time.