Historical information

Samuel Baird attended Ballarat College 1864 - 1872. He was the first student enrolled at the school. His father, Samuel Baird, was the first engineer for the city of Ballarat. According to his grandson Samuel Baird was indentured to a local chemist in Ballarat. He moved to Melbourne and took over the chemist business Hood and Co in Elizabeth Street Melbourne. This business remained in the family for a further generation.
This certificate is accompanied by an earlier certificate indicating that Samuel also sat a matriculation examination in October 1871 and passed in four subjects (000132.1). The certificates are accompanied by signed receipts from the University of Melbourne for matriculation examinations at a totla of four times -
Receipt no 503 30 October 1871 for 5 subjects (000132.2)
Receipt no 495 6 August 1872 less than six subjects (000132.3)
Receipt no 696 29 October 1872 for 8 subjects (000132.4)
Receipt no 195 14 February 1873 for matriculation exam (000132.5) for purchased copies of matriculation certificates. This infers that Samuel Baird sat some portion of the matriculation certificate over four examinations.
Record 000131 is related to these items being a reference from the Principal Robert Oliver McCoy for Samuel Baird written in 1873.

Significance

Historic significance for its connection with the first student of Ballarat College.

Physical description

Single sheet form printed on one side with handwritten insertions.

Inscriptions & markings

Front: THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE / MATRICULATION EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE / At a Matriculation Examination held in the / October Term, 1872 / Samuel Baird / passed in the following six subjects: / 1. Latin 4. Arithmetic / 2. English 5. Algebra / 3. French 6. Euclid / [Signature] President
/ 14 Feb 1873 [Signature] Registrar