This is a teacher's desk which came from Woodford State School. The school began in 1854 in a private dwelling with a new building constructed in 1874. The school still operates today.This is a very fine example of an early 20th century school teacher's desk. As it comes from one of the earliest schools in the district, it is of considerable significance.This is a wooden desk, now varnished, with a lift up, slanted lid with brass hinges and a brass key hole. On the top right hand side is a brass insert with a porcelain ink well. The desk has four turned legs with end struts. The desk lid may be made of pine but the rest of the desk seems to be made of a different wood. There are signs of old borer on the left hand front and the curved part on that side is missing.woodford state school, teachers desk, wooden teachers desk

A succession of teachers has signed their names under the lid, and the notation "Killed in Action, March 1917" has been added after the 1913 signature of Edward Jones. These were originally at State School 1589 Invermichie, which operated from 1875 to 1917 near Munro. At its closure the furniture was transferred to Munro, and teachers there signed the desk lid after that time. A tall, unpainted teacher's wooden desk with a single hinged flap as a lid. A ceramic inkwell is set into the top right-hand side. Names have been inscribed under the lid. It is accompanied by its stool (00802VSFH)Names that are legible include: R.Costello 1925 [?], 1928 Hector Connaught / Semper Fideles J.A. Cullinan, 96 BW 94 Maude Rack June '91 J.Bux Howqua Dale Barry J. Buxton 19.12.52/son of the above. Edw. H. Jones August 1913. Killed in Action March 1917 Enter Irene Hannan 1st May 1916 Exit 19 Sept 1919 Ella K. Fletcher 31.8.20 Monga [?] Duggan 1922 S.M.Kerr 7/1/27 J.A.Mullin Jan 1930-Sept 34 Robert J ...... Sept 34-Dec34 G.A.Faux Jan 5 to Aug 55 Mrs Mary M.Costello HT Sept 1955 Heather A ..... Assistant Feb 1969-Dec 1970 Emma Dronieika [?] Assistant Feb 1971 - Dec 1971 Pamela Golden (Draffin) Feb 1972-Dec 1972 AnneCargeeg Feb 1973 Scratched on lid is B.W.Butcher born 1912, killed 1959 aged 47 Vision and Realisation gives dates for the school as 1875 to 1917, so names after that time would appear to be for teachers from Munro.schools, world war 1914-1918

This inkwell stand contains 24 individual inkwells. Rather than attempting to top up the individual inkwells on each pupil's desk, the inkwells would have been collected together, and topped up in the stand. This would have avoided ink spillage or splatter on multiple desks.After a child was deemed old enough to progress from just using slate and board, he/she would have been supplied with a pen shaft made of wood and with a very basic metal nib. An ink jug would be used to fill up the individual inkwells using the inkwell stand. This operation would have been conducted by the teacher him/herself, or by an older pupil under the close eye of the teacher.Wooden inkwell stand with 24 holesNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, ink, inkwell

This desk was used as a teacher's desk in the Rutherglen Common School, probably in the 1920s.Brown wooden desk with double door cupboard in the front, and a hinged top which can be opened for storage.school, common school, education, furniture