Historical information

Martha Pinkerton and her brother Frank Pinkerton were longstanding supporters of the Ballarat School of Mines and its students. Following their deaths in the 1930s, the School became the recipient of two important bequests that were to lead to the establishment in perpetuity of the following student scholarships: firstly, the Frank Pinkerton scholarship valued at £30 per annum for three years and free tuition in architecture, metallurgy, applied chemistry, mining, electrical, mechanical or civil engineering-and secondly, the Martha K. Pinkerton art scholarship of the same value, 'for talented and deserving students from the City and District of Ballarat'. In the early 1930's Martha, who was a past student at the SMB Art and Technical School, began to give a succession of practical donations to the institution which commenced during the Depression years. Thereafter, for approximately a decade until her early death, she continued to donate £50 annually to assist with the payment of the fees of students at the Technical Art School who were experiencing financial difficulties.