Significance

The Wheildon family stained glass windows at Toorak College, Mount Eliza, are of historical significance to both the school, and the field of stained glass in Victoria. They provide a direct, authentic and personal connection to stained glass designer William Wheildon of Brooks Robinson and Co, and to the foundation of the school at Mount Eliza, reincarnated as a company school. The provenance of the windows as gifts in the name of the Wheildon sisters is well - documented. The windows are well - preserved examples of commemorative windows of the inter-war period and provide insight to the qualities that were deemed valuable in female education and wider Australian society during the 1920s.

Physical description

1928 Stained Glass Window depicting the Cardinal Virtue 'Fortitude', located on the internal right hand side of the front door at main reception. H 895mm x W 385mm; H 1033mm x W 490mm including timber frame, designed by William Wheildon and installed by Brooks, Robinson and Co Melbourne. Constructed of coloured glass, lead came, saddle bar mounted in a timber window frame. 'Fortitude' is depicted with a shield representing resilience and has a plaque inscribed 'Gift of Suzette Wheildon'. The companion window is 'Prudence'. The two windows were donated by students and sisters Mary Wheildon (year 1928) and Suzette Wheildon (year 1934), to celebrate Toorak College re locating from Melbourne to Mount Eliza (then Frankston) as a 'boarding only' school in 1928. The sisters' father was William Wheildon, head stained glass designer at Brooks, Robinson & Co Melbourne. They are located either side of the main entrance, at main reception, Toorak College, in the Hamilton Building, Mount Eliza. See description on page 9 of 'The Magazine of Toorak College, No. 56, December 1928.

Inscriptions & markings

Donated by Suzette Wheildon