TOODYAY SCHOOL DUKE STREET - EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS.

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c. 1922 - 1923

Subcollections

Overview

A very pale black & white 'copied' photo of activity in the experimental plots nearby the Duke St. School.
The top section of a picket fence is between both & trees surrounding all. In the foreground are 2 cabbage patches - to the rt & lt of which are a boy & a girl & 2 men.
The men are dressed in suits & hats - they have been identified as Mr P. Doig & Mr C. Sainsbury (Headmaster)
the boy is in knee breeches, shirt & jacket & is holding a bucket in his rt. hand. The girl is similarly clothed & wearing a low brimmed hat. Her right arm/hand is up near her face.
Behind this group are plots of corn & other plants.
Two of the four corners are 'pink'. There are other paper markings probably because of attaching photo to another surface. Also Sellotape stains.

Historical information

The names of the men in the image were written on a slip of paper accompanying the photo.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-37-2001.1130

Item type

Photographs

Material

Photo Paper

Width

25.4000 cm

Height or length

15.8000 cm

Themes

Social History

Education

Contextual Information

The old Newcastle School, located on Duke Street, was the first purpose built school in the new town site of Toodyay (then known as Newcastle). It operated as a school from 1887 to 1954. From about 1914, new teaching methods were introduced at this school that focused on skills suited to future farmers and country residents, including the use of small agricultural plots.
From 1918 the school was classified as a rural observation school. In May 1919, 27 visiting teachers participated in a "school of instruction", spending two weeks learning about the new teaching methods. This was the largest such event held in the state at the time.
In 1920 the school was declared Western Australia's first consolidated school, taking students from smaller schools in outlying areas. Such consolidation provided more efficient teaching than multiple smaller schools. Initially, West Toodyay School was closed and the children taken to Duke Street each day by bus. The same was done for other schools later; the increased student numbers necessitated addition of another classroom, and a wooden pavilion was moved from Bunbury in 1923.
A Parents and Citizens Association was formed in 1921, and a school board was elected in 1923. Also in 1923, the school was provided with electric light.
By 1949 increasing numbers of students meant a site for a new school was chosen. In 1954 the new Toodyay District High School opened and Duke Street closed.

Year

c. 1922 - 1923

Shire of Toodyay

Organisation Details
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