Historical information

Used at School of mines and industries Ballarat
As H.V. McKay's Sunshine Harvester business expanded there was a requirement for a school to train the company's apprentices. In 1911, H.V. McKay wrote to the Victoria Cabinet offering 2,000 pounds and 4 1/2 acres of land in Derby Rd for a technical school,
On the 7th July 1913, the new Sunshine Technical School opened with a wooded administration building with six class rooms and a large galvanised iron workshop for the trade apprentices. Mr George Baxter was appointed principal with assistant teachers, A.J. Dunlop (Maths & English), W.W. Anderson (Art) & H.B. Ernest (Maths & Science). Seventy students were enrolled in the first year of which 44 were apprentices from the Harvester Works.
During the First World War Years (1914 - 1918) there was a difficulties with staffing and enrollments. The school was also used to provide vocational training for wounded returned soldiers. In 1919 during the great influenza epidemic the school was used as a hospital.

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Physical description

Light blue soft covered booklet of 60 pages with information about office bearers, staff, objects of the school, prizes and scholarships, examinations, time tables, courses, and subjects. It has photographs and advertising.