This item was from the original Torquay primary School. It is believed to date back to the early 1900s or earlier. It was supplied to the school by the Public Works Department and still bears the PWB brands. The desk was purchased by the late George McCartney, at a public auction of the old school's furniture and effects and donated by the McCartney family to the Torquay and District Historical Society in 2017. Some repairs and restoration work were completed by the Torquay Men's Shed.Wooden school principal's desk PWD on outside of front right hand leg.torquay primary school, public works department, mccartney family, torquay men's shed.

Before 1941 "Hillside", McCartney's Road was associated with the Carroll Family. Patrick Edmund Carroll, his wife Mary Matilda Fitzgerald, and children Kathleen, Ronald and Rosemary were the last members of the family to live at and work "Hillside". Stanislaus Kelly and his wife Margaret (nee Gorman) bought the farm from the Carroll family. The couple raised six children on the land: May, Mary, Leo, Ray (Lofty), Daniel (Tich) and Bernadette. The family grew spuds and onions on the hill and milked cows, with the little dairy located on the eastern side of the house. (information from Mary Kelly)Colour digital photographs of Crossley, Victoria, near McCartney's Lane. The house depicted is "Hillside" in McCartney's Lane. The views towards an extinct volcano is Tower Hill.crossley, hillside, carroll, tower hill, mccartney's lane

Tom Fitzgerald and his brother Greg Fitzgerald dig potatoes at the Carroll family farm, 'Hillside', McCartney's Lane, Crossley. The Fitzgerald brothers were brothers of Mary Matilda Carroll who was married to Patrick Edmund Carroll.crossley, carroll, patrick edmund carroll, mary matilda carroll, mary matilda fitzgerald, greg fitzgerald, tom fitzgerald, onions, farming

Weatherboard house at Crossley, Victoria. The house used to be the home of Patrick and Mary Carroll, and their family. Sisters Rosemary Carrill (left) and Kathleen Carroll stand on the pathway.crossley, hillside, mccartney lane

Around 1941 this family left the farm at Crossley and moved to Melbourne, Victoria. Black and white photograph of members of the Carroll family of 'Hillside", McCartney's Lane, Crossley, Victoria. Left to right: Mary Carroll (Fitzgerald), Rosemary Carroll, Kathleen Carroll, Ronald Carroll, Patrick Edmund Carroll.kathleen carroll, mary carroll, mary fitzgerald, ron carroll, rosemary carroll, patrick edmund carroll, ronald carroll