Schools of Collingwood, Abbotsford and Clifton Hill
This page will be used for a changing selection of extracts from our new book
Bitter roots, sweet fruit, and to add comments and additional information sent to us by readers.
The maps from the book, which show the location of the 176 schools described in the book (except for a few which we have been unable to locate), can now be downloaded via the links below. They are all in pdf format and the book page reference is shown in the link text. The maps have been funded by a Yarra History grant under the City of Yarra Annual Grants Program.
The detailed index prepared by Kerry Biram is now available to view and download in pdf format. By using this document you can check whether topics of interest to you are in the book.
If you wish to purchase the book you can get more information about ordering from our Publications page.
School 164. Sydney Street Ragged School, 1861 - c. 1877
This school, for children too poor to attend a normal school, started in a small wooden house in Sydney Street, eventually replaced by "a nice little brick building, attended by some 25 children ...". The introduction of free schooling led to the eventual closure of Collingwood's Ragged Schools.
School 85. Miss Finlay and Miss Davidson's ladies school, 1871 - 1872.
In an eight-roomed house in Langridge Street near Wellington Street, and conducted by two friends, this school was like many private schools in the area in being very short-lived.
School 143. Miss Berry's school, "Truwalla", 1903 - 1919.
Miss Emma Berry, a resident of Varian (Yarra) Street ran her school in rooms behind the Primitive Methodist Church in Vere Street, Abbotsford. Children from Infants to Third Class attended.
Schools of Collingwood, Abbotsford and Clifton Hill
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