Gordon Institute of TAFE opened in 1887 as the Gordon Memorial Technical School. Photograph shows the area of the building in Fenwick Street near Little Malop Street corner, Geelong. The doorway is the Davidson Restaurant entrance.Large group outside entrance to Gordon Memorial Technical School, Geelong

Mr. George Thomas' connection with Collingwood Technical School began as a junior technical student at Collingwood in 1913. He then became an apprentice in the electrical trades during which time he also undertook a Diploma course in Electrical Engineering. Mr Thomas was appointed as a teacher (part-time) of Electrical Wiring at Collingwood in 1922 having had previous experience teaching in Geelong at the Gordon Institute of Technology. In 1930 Mr Thomas became a full-time teacher in Electrical Trades, the year of the commencement of the Apprenticeship Commission in Victoria. In 1937 he was instrumental in introducing electroplating as a trade whereas it had previously only been taught as a section of the Electrical Trades. This was a period of severe economic constraints following the Great Depression and spending on education was limited. Needing the latest knowledge of industrial practices, Mr Thomas canvassed electroplating industries around Melbourne seeking employment opportunities and met with favourable responses. He approached Quinton’s electroplating firm in North Melbourne with the proposal to work for them on Saturday mornings without payment. In return for his labour, he asked to be taught the basics of the trade. During the week he was able to impart his knowledge to his students. Initially, he wanted to develop electroplating as an outlet for the Youth Employment Training Scheme. Once the class was firmly established, he submitted a proposal to the Education Department to establish an Electroplating Department, and this became the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere. He gave up teaching in 1939 to become the Northcote City Electrical Engineer where he served for 26 years. During this time he was also a Consulting Electrical Engineer to Box Hill and Port Melbourne Councils. His association with Collingwood Technical School (and later, College) continued, first as an examiner on the State Electricity Commission (SEC) panel and from 1947 as a member of the School Council. He was president of the Council in 1961 and 1962. He also represented the College on the Northern Regional Council and participated in the selection of Electrical Trades teachers. For four years, 1967-1971, he represented the metropolitan Technical Schools and Colleges on the Council of the Monash University, in which capacity he gave outstanding service to technical education. George H. Thomas attended his first Council meeting on June 12, 1947 and remained on the Council until the secondary and post-secondary sections were separated in 1981 – a period in excess of 34 years. (See Scott p36).Black and white photographs of Mr. George Thomas who had a long association with Collingwood Technical School and Collingwood Technical College, spanning the years 1937-1972. He began his connection with the school as a teacher and went on to become a member of the School Council. He introduced Electroplating as a trade to be taught at Collingwood Technical School in 1937. (Scott p36) The photographs include one of Mr. George Thomas in Monash University regalia 1971. Another of Collingwood Technical School Council 1972 with Mr. Thomas. Images also include an excerpt from Mr. Scott's history.collingwood technical school, george h. thomas, electroplating course, nmit

An 'Age' newspaper article titled 'Varsity plan worries teachers'. The Principal of the State College of Victoria Geelong Mr. David Boyd is concerned about the future of teacher training in Geelong since the legislation establishing the new Deakin University. This to be based on the amalgamation of the local teachers' college and the Gordon Institute of Technology. 26/11/74.bendigo, education, state college of victoria, la trobe university bendigo collection, collection, state college of victoria geelong, tertiary education, education, mr. david boyd, australian universities commission

Cloth sample from an opera cloak made in England c. 1820 from wool clipped from Macarthur's merino sheep in 1816. The cloak was passed down through the family to Harold Lethbridge with whom the main part of the cloak resides, in Narrandera. The fragment was passed to Lethbridge's niece who gave it to the donor's mother who passed it onto him and then it was donated to the National Wool Museum. The cloth fragment was tested by Gordon Institute of Technology in 1974 showing the wool to be very fine (15-16 microns) which is consistent with the pure lineage of Macarthur's sheep. The cloth fragment was framed in 1952 and remains in the original frame to this day. Cloth sample form an opera cloak made in England c. 1820. Wool for the cloak was clipped from John Macarthur’s merino sheep in 1816. Macarthur is recognised as the pioneer of the wool industry that was to boom in Australia in the early 19th century and become a trademark of the nation. Macarthur was responsible for the first bale of Australian wool to be exported. The British woollen mills were desperate for wool at the time because of the Napoleonic blockade, and the Australian bale sold for a record price. Australia needed a product to sell in European markets which did not perish during long sea-voyages and which offered high value per unit of weight. Wool also had a ready market in England because the Napoleonic Wars had increased demand and cut English cloth-makers off from their traditional source of quality wool, Spain. Australia's first $2 banknote featured John Macarthur thanks largely to his establishment of wool as the backbone of the early Australian economy. Red fabric sample folded in half and mounted in the centre of a brown metal frame.'ARCO' MADE IN ENGLANDmacarthur, wool industry, australian economy

The book was used by Peter Evans (born 1927) to record notes during classes in the Wool Classing course at Gordon Institute, 1939-1944. Mr Evans was from Hamilton, Victoria, where he continued the family business of wool and sheepskin trading. The book was a gift to Dr Grahame Abbott from the inherited estate of Peter Evans in consideration of his experience in the wool industry over 35 years at the CSIRO Wool Laboratories at Belmont.A bound cash book with a cardboard cover and maroon cotton binding. Has a paper label with a blue inscription in the centre of the front cover. Pages lined and ruled in columns. Contains handwritten notes in blue and red ink on 72 pages.Wording: CASH BOOK D.M.C.;Method: printed;Location: front covergordon institute of technology, woolclassing, evans, mr peter, geelong, victoria

Weaving samples sent from Mr FK Brodie from Gordon Institute of Technology Textile College to the Australian Wool Board, then returned, in 1963.Weaving samples sent from Mr FK Brodie from Gordon Institute of Technology Textile College to the Australian Wool Board, then returned, in 1963.weaving, brodie, mr fred k. - gordon institute of technology, textile department farnworth, mr arthur j - australian wool board

Letter from C E Woolcock of G H Michell & Sons Limited dated 18th June 1942, to W R Lang. Describes experiments on "neutralising" wool during wool processing.wool - research wool processing world war ii wool - testing, g h michell & sons limited gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool processing, world war ii, wool - testing

Letter from Goldsbrough Mort and Company Limited to W R Lang, 14th November, 1946wool - research wool - testing, goldsbrough, mort and company limited gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing

Letter from The Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina to W R Lang, 17th November, 1947.RBS/ this was mentioned/ to you yesterdaywool - research wool - testing wool - testing, the graziers' association of southern riverina gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, deniliquin, new south wales, wool - research, wool - testing

Letter from J F Guthrie requests a report on a sample of wool from a ram called "Fryberg" used in the stud at Bulgandra.URGENT/ Hair & Graphwool - research wool - testing world war ii sheep breeding corriedale studs, j.f. guthrie (corriedale) pty ltd gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy guthrie, senator james francis c.b.e., wool - research, wool - testing, world war ii, sheep breeding, corriedale studs

Letter from H Munz to W R Lang enquiring about Mr Lang's contribution to his book.wool - research wool processing, h munz wool trading co gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool processing

Letter from H Munz to W R Lang contains seven pages of reviews for his book "The Australian Wool Industry" (Angus & Robertson, Sydney)Please return after perusal... Quite good/..../27/7/1950 G W McDwool - research wool processing, h munz wool trading co gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool processing

Letter from H Munz to W R Lang regarding his book."The Australian Wool Industry" (Angus & Robertson, Sydney,1950)wool - research wool processing merino sheep - history, h munz wool trading co gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy munz, mr h., wool - research, wool processing, merino sheep - history

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang 17/12/1942, regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Haddon Rig Stud to W R Lang 10/10/1942, regarding the testing of two fleeces.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology, lang, dr w. roy, haddon rig merino sheep stud, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Hazeldean Pastoral Co to W R Lang 17th March 1943 regarding the testing of wool sampleswool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology hazeldean pastoral co, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 4/9/1944, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 12/9/1945, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 9/2/1946, regarding the testing of wool samples.wool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history

Letter from the Kalabity Pastoral Co to W R Lang 1/6/1944, regarding receipt of publicationswool - research wool - testing merino sheep - history world war ii, gordon institute of technology kalabity pastoral co ltd, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, merino sheep - history, world war ii

Letter from the The Kelson Products Co to W R Lang 11th April 1940, the testing of wool taken off sheep skins after the animal had been slaughtered469/40wool - research wool - testing world war ii, gordon institute of technology the kelson products co, fellmongery, lang, dr w. roy, wool - research, wool - testing, world war ii