...
These ad hoc measures could not solve long-term problems. On two occasions, in February 1895 and June 1899, the Department instructed the Head Teachers to forward lists of grades 4 and 5 classes recording dates of birth, addresses, distance from Princes Hill, and the distance and direction of the nearest alternative school to their home. The purpose was to determine whether amalgamation with another school was feasible, and what further accommodation should be considered for Princes Hill. (In this context, it is hard to understand why information was sought on grades 4 and 5 rather than the junior school, where the potential growth was.)31 Twice, in 1889 and 1903, the Department instructed the Head Teachers to draw up lists of students who could be transferred to Lygon Street and Brunswick South respectively. In 1903, Head Teacher Skewes resisted the directive, arguing that only seven of the 123 children attending classes at Christian Chapel, Pigdon Street (which was being used as an annexe) were from Brunswick; the Inner Circle railway line, which ran parallel to Park Street, was dangerous and difficult to cross; nor was it sound to separate brothers and sisters attending Arnold Street.” 32 In August 1895, when McNab complained that 12 burgeoning enrolments were forcing him to turn students away, the Department reduced the space allocation from ten square feet to eight square feet per student, thus increasing the school’s capacity from 500 to 625 scholars.33 Unable to repeat that solution in 1899, when the complaint was again voiced, the Department ordered Skewes to arrange transfers to Brunswick South and to refuse new admissions.3" 34 The instructions were repeated in 1903 and 1904.35 Sent in 1899 and 1902 to investigate the situation, District Inspectors S. Swindley and H. Shelton confirmed the obvious: short-term measures did not help. Princes Hill was not the only overcrowded school in the area. Only Lygon Street had space, but access to it was barred by the cemetery. Therefore, zoning or refusing admissions was not the answer. Nor was leasing space a viable solution: there were obvious problems of distance and supervision. Only extensions to the school building, Shelton concluded, would improve the situation.3 36
While the Education Department deliberated alternative solutions, the scholars of Princes Hill attended school in leased classrooms about Princes Hill and North Carlton. In November 1899, the school began a six-month lease of St Michael’s Hall on the corner of McIlwraith and McPherson Streets, five minutes’ walk from the main school. Here, one large classroom (54 feet by 31 feet 6 inches) and two smaller classrooms accommodated the 240 students in grades 1 and 2.37 In September 1901, the infant school returned to Mr Purvis’ shop in Lygon Street.38 In February 1904, after almost five years of negotiations, the Christian Chapel in Pigdon Street, between Rathdowne and Drummond Streets, was again leased, for £52 per annum. This was eight minutes’ walk from Arnold Street. It provided two large rooms (33 by 40 feet) and two smaller rooms.39
"9 Nevertheless, the economic pressures were at last beginning to ease. By the turn of the century, government finances had improved sufficiently for public works programmes to resume. With a new Education Act and a new Director, Frank Tate, the Department began to do something about what Tate described as the ‘appalling heritage’ of nine years’ penny-pinching. In 1908, £40,000 was spent on new buildings and the remodelling of old ones. In 1909-10, the sum increased to £130,000.“ 13 40
The effects of the new policy were soon felt at Princes Hill. In March 1901, the Department held preliminary discussions to consider extending the school to accommodate another 250 children at a cost of £2350. In February 1902, at the suggestion of the Public Works Department, the proposed extensions were expanded to house 427 children at a cost of £3450.“ 41 On 17 July 1902, Inspector Shelton reaffirmed the need for extensions, adding that at least a portion of the project should be built. Despite internal Departmental agreement that additions were necessary, work did not commence until 1906.
The Arnold St building that was destroyed by fire on the morning of 8 February 1970 had been erected in three stages. The 1889 structure, which remained the central portion of the final building, was positioned on an east-west axis, approximately in the centre of the block, which had a frontage of 188 feet and a depth of 159 feet; The cube shaped, double-storey building was Gothic in style, with a polychrome brick facade and a slate roof. It cost £2221 and provided 2960 square feet of floor space.” 42 Newspaper reports describe it as commodious and handsome. The four classrooms - two downstairs and two upstairs were well lit and ventilated.” 43 The prominent bell tower that dominates photographs of the old building stood above the front upstairs classroom. The two downstairs rooms were positioned one behind the other. The front classroom was entirely a gallery room. Based on the English system, the room was filled with long backless desks, between six and twelve feet long,, each row standing on a platform three inches higher than the one in front. The rear room used by the infants was partly furnished with desks and partly with a gallery. Beside the front room was the Head Teacher’s office, a draughty, stone-floored, boxed-in passage. Although the first Head Teacher, John Russell, asked that any future plans for extensions to the school incorporate a proper office, the Department was not favourably disposed. The space, he was informed, would have to do: it was not anticipated that in a school of Princes Hill’s size the Head Teacher would be spending much time in the office. If the school was enlarged, an office would be considered.“ 44 In 1889, the two upstairs rooms accommodated grades 4, 5 and 6.
Arnold Street, after the last phase of additions in 1906.
In In July 1890, the two senior grades were moved to Lygon Street under the care of Mr McShane."5 .45
Arnold Street, after the last phase of additions in 1906.
Although extra land was purchased from Mr Lawrence Ward for £891 in October 1889, the second phase of building was not approved until August 1891. Completed in December by H. Franklyn, it added two large rooms to the south wing, at a cost of£1005.5.8. The 2090 square feet of floor space provided accommodation for 200 students, and the grades at Lygon Street returned to Arnold Street.46
"" The third phase, first mooted in 1901-2, was built in 1906. It was designed by Samuel E. Bindley according to specifications determined at the 1904 Conference on Hygiene.“ 47The two-storey enlargement to the north wing provided an extra 6132 square feet, doubling the school’s space. Even at the new ratio of twelve square feet per student, the school could now accommodate 511 scholars. The additions cost £5327.6.ll. Signed on February 1906, the contract was won by W. H. Deague and Sons of Albert Park. Work was to be completed by 29 September. Delays in June and a strike in early December delayed completion. The building was officially opened on 23 March 1907.48
The infants occupied the central hall (60 feet 6 inches by 24 feet) and four surrounding classrooms downstairs."9 49 The floor plan was repeated upstairs except that the northern corridor reduced the length of the central room above the 15 hall. The Head Teacher’s office was appended to the northern end. Internally, the floors were bare timber; the walls were drably painted in greenish grey and divided by dados painted a few shades lighter. Some ceilings were lined with pressed metal, others with white-painted, tongue-and groove lining boards. There were two staircases, one in the centre of the building and the other beside the Head Teacher’s office. The ‘dux’ honour board was at the head of the northern stairs.50
Reconstruction of the ground and first floor plans of Princes Hill School, c. 1906. The original architectural plans no longer exist. The plans were drawn by Mr Lawrence Burchell. KEY: A.‘ General classrooms (1889); B .' Infant classroom with gallery ( 1889),’ G.‘ Gallery classroom (1889); the galleries were removed’ c. 1905,‘ D: General classrooms (1891); E: Classrooms ‘ with dual desks on stepped floors (1906): F .' Head Teacher’s office (1906); G: Top-lit classrooms ([906); H: School hall (I906). 16
...