McAuley College was established at Dooboobetic in 1977 as a Catholic consolidated secondary college bringing together secondary catholic students from Donald, St Arnaud and Charlton in Victoria's Wimmera. A new school was built on a 23-acre site at Dooboobetic constructed from mostly portable classrooms among wheat fields, five minutes from the Gooroc church. The college served the north-west from Wycheproof to Wedderburn. The concept proved unsustainable and the Dooboobetic campus was closed in 2003 marking the end of a century of Catholic secondary education in the district.

Mr William Burke settled at Dooboobetic near Donald in the 1860s his sons eventually working their own farms on subdivisions of the original property. Archibald (Archie) whose team is pictured had a portion named "Inverleigh". His daughter married Mr Michael Taffe of "Hymettus" Ballarat where the photographic archive survives. small snapshot image badly creased of team with inscription and print on reverse.Written on reverse "G'pa Burke's team. with printed words KODAK PRINT and ink stamp 431

The smoker's cap belonged to Mr John Bennett one of the pioneer settlers of Dooboobetic and Yeungroon. Round smoker's cap, Material are blue fabric outer with bead work in yellow beading. Pattern of the beading is a flower and vine pattern around the brim. A yellow tassel is on top. The lining is a golden silk with quilting pattern on crown.bennett, dooboobetic, yeungroon, charlton, clothing

Pair of embroidered doyleys for cake or sandwich trays made by Mary Burke of Dooboobetic in the 1920s. After her marriage to Michael Taffe in 1940 Mary moved to Ballarat and many of her embroideries remain in the house. They range from duchess sets to doyleys such as these. simple embroidery was taught to young girls in schools up until post-World War II.One rectangular and one elliptical cotton doyley with simple floral embroidery.Nildooboobetic, st arnaud, ballarat, doyley, sandwich tray

McAuley College was established at Dooboobetic in 1977 as a Catholic consolidated secondary college bringing together secondary catholic students from Donald, St Arnaud and Charlton in Victoria's Wimmera. A new school was built on a 23-acre site at Dooboobetic constructed from mostly portable classrooms among wheat fields, five minutes from the Gooroc church. The college served the north-west from Wycheproof to Wedderburn. The concept proved unsustainable and the Dooboobetic campus was closed in 2003 marking the end of a century of Catholic secondary education in the district.donald, st arnaud, charlton, catholic consolidated secondary college, dooboobetic, wimmera, catholic secondary education, mcauley college

This cranberry glass sugar bowl was a wedding gift to Eleanor and Archibald Burke of Dooboobetic upon their marriage in 1902. It passed to their daughter Mary (Taffe) and has remained at Hymettus, the Taffe family home at Ballarat since she moved there with her husband in 1945.cranberry glass, glass, condiments

A rare example of domestic leatherwork made by Mary Burke as a young schoolgirl for holding a devotional hole picture of the infant Jesus. A Catholic domestic object for private devotional purposes. Mary later married Michael Taffe Assistant Stationmaster Donald and they moved to the family home, Hymettus at Ballarat.Early twentieth century small domestic leatherwork picture frame made for a Catholic devotional object in the home.holy picture, domestic craft, leatherwork, taffe, burke, dooboobetic, donald, ballarat