FORMER SUNSHINE TECHNICAL SCHOOL

111 AND 129-133 DERBY ROAD SUNSHINE, BRIMBANK CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register

Nash block 2024

Statement of Significance

• Additional Place Information

  • History

    FORMER SUNSHINE TECHNICAL SCHOOL - History

    Technical Schools

    Technical schools were designed to equip students with the skills needed to work at a manual trade. Common classes included woodwork and joinery, plumbing, metalwork, and later electronics, radio communications, and motor mechanics. For women and girls, some technical schools offered classes in needlework, dressmaking millinery and cookery. Early technical education in Victoria was haphazard and did not have a central organisation. The first real technical schools were the Schools of Mines in Ballarat (1870) and Bendigo (1873). The Industrial and Technological Museum opened in 1873 and offered evening classes in a range of practical maths and science subjects. Technical subjects were also taught at mechanics institutes, and at schools of art and design from 1873. These were the precursors to the more generalist technical schools. Early technical college included the Melbourne Working Men’s College (now RMIT, established 1887), the Gordon Institute of Technology (1887) and the Horsham Working Men’s College (1890). However, these schools, as well as schools of mines and art and design, continued to be hampered by lack of government funding and central organisation. 
    
    

    A Royal Commission on Technical Education was held from 1899-1901. The Commission examined Victoria’s ten schools of mines, five schools of arts, and three technical colleges, and recommended that technical education be improved and expanded. The Royal Commission resulted in the Education Act 1910, and a complete reorganisation of state secondary education.[1]  Under this Act, the State Government created junior technical schools, providing government-funded post-primary technical education for the first time. The Education Department also established senior technical schools, which would cater to adults and apprentices. Sunshine Technical College, opened in 1913, was one of the first three schools established after the Act passed Parliament. It had both junior and senior classes on campus.
    
    

    In Melbourne, technical schools became common in the industrial suburbs of the north and west. Until 1943 the only technical school in the eastern suburbs was the Eastern Suburbs Technical School in Hawthorn (now Swinburne University of Technology, established 1908). During World War II, technical schools played a critical role in defence training, and in re-training military personnel. By 1945 there were 32 technical schools, and 28 junior technical schools. In 1965 there were 52 technical schools in Melbourne and suburbs and 33 in the country, with one high school also offering a technical section. Today, technical schools have been largely subsumed by the TAFE systems, or into regional university campuses. 
    
    

    Sunshine Technical College

    Sunshine Technical College was the longest running junior technical school in Victoria, operating from 1913 to 1991. It also operated as a campus for a senior technical school. It was one of the first three technical schools created after the Education Act 1910, and thus one of the first run by the Education Department. The other two were West Melbourne Junior Technical School (1912, moved to Essendon 1939) and Collingwood Technical School (1912). 
    
    

    Association with H.V. McKay and Sunshine Harvester Works 

    Hugh Victor McKay (1865-1926) was the primary benefactor of Sunshine Technical College. McKay made his fortune through his company, the Sunshine Harvester Works, founded in Ballarat in 1889. In 1904, McKay purchased the Braybrook Implement Company works in Braybrook Junction and transferred his operations to this site, completing the move in 1907. The suburb of Braybrook Junction was renamed Sunshine in 1907, in recognition of McKay and his company. The facility expanded to become one of the largest and most active industrial plants in Australia, producing a wide range of agricultural implements. McKay introduced labour saving machine tools, the piecework system and time and motion studies, making the Sunshine Harvester Works one of the of the few Australian manufacturers to employ mass production methods.  
    McKay wanted a technical school in Sunshine to ensure skilled workers for his factory. He even offered his apprentices a half-day off every week to attend classes- a unique and innovative decision. At opening, over half of the enrolments at the senior division of Sunshine Technical College were apprentices employed at Sunshine Harvester Works. McKay’s investment in Sunshine Technical College was part of his desire to create a model working class community. McKay subdivided much of the land surrounding his factories and donated it for the construction of housing and public amenities for his workers. As well as giving land and money for Sunshine Technical College, McKay funded gardens (now the H.V McKay Memorial Gardens – VHR H1953), a church, railway station and hospital, as well as electric lighting and windbreaks. 
    
    

    McKay remained president of the Sunshine Technical School Council until his death in 1926. After his death, members of his family and senior staff of Sunshine Harvester Works continued to sit on the School Council[GBA(1] [ALM(2] . In 1930, Sunshine Harvester Works merged with Massey Harris, weakening the ties between the company and Sunshine Technical College (Vines, 2007). In 1953, Massey-Harris amalgamated with Harry Ferguson. The McKay family interest was bought out by this company in 1955. 
    
    

    Buildings at Sunshine Technical College

    The first buildings at Sunshine Technical College were a wooden administration building and large iron workshop. In 1915 the science lab was partitioned to accommodate female students, who were to learn shorthand, typewriting and bookkeeping. In 1921 Sunshine Girls’ Technical College was officially established, with its own headmistress. It was the first dedicated girls’ technical school in Victoria.
    
    

    A purpose-made girls’ school building was officially opened in 1940 and was named the Nash Block in honour of the first headmistress of Sunshine Girls’ Technical School. The building was designed in the Moderne style by Chief Architect of the Public Works Department, Percy Everett. Everett was instrumental in promoting Moderne architecture in public buildings.  Everett was a product of technical schools, receiving his education at Gordon Technical College and taking on the role of headmaster at Brunswick Technical School and Brighton Technical School. He considered the Moderne style suitable for technical schools in particular, as a modern and state-of-the-art expression. Everett undertook extensive planning for schools, and introduced entirely new types of technical, high, consolidated and elementary schools. His work was highly influential, and other Australian states adopted his planning and designs.
    
    

    In 1941 a new brick workshop was opened at the corner of Derby Road and Graham Street. Funded by the Department of Defence, the building was part of the Commonwealth Defence Technical Training Scheme. Men and women would be trained to work at the munitions and explosives factories in the district. In 1945 the Public Works Department granted a tender to construct additions to the 1941 workshop. The Percy Everett design remodelled and extended the workshop, adding a second floor and curved stairwell in a Moderne design. The resulting building, named the Henty Boys’ Trade Block, was completed in 1947. 
    
    

    An auditorium was opened on site in 1963, funded by the Education Department and parents and friends of Sunshine Technical College. In the 1980s the 1913 building was demolished to make way for a three-storey brutalist building, known as the Beavan Wing. The original 1913 workshops were also demolished in to accommodate the brutalist Ferguson Wing.
    
    

    Educational innovations at Sunshine Technical College

    Sunshine Technical College opened in 1913, with facilities for both a junior and senior classes. The junior classes provided a secondary education for working-class boys, while the senior classes catered for apprentices. At opening, over half of these apprentices worked for McKay at Sunshine Harvester Works.  The junior division was particularly significant, as Sunshine Technical College was one of the first government-controlled junior technical schools in Victoria (the others being Collingwood and West Melbourne Junior Technical School). 
    
    

    Sunshine Technical College was the first technical school in Victoria where an employer allowed his apprentices half a day to attend classes. H.V. McKay made this promise in 1911, when he offered the Education Department land and money to set up a technical school in Sunshine. This arrangement was unique and highly influential, and the model spread to the entire state in 1928, under the Victorian Apprenticeship Commission. In 1917 the school introduced a vocational retraining scheme, to reskill repatriated servicemen. This became the model for the scheme operated by the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Commission between 1918 and 1923. 

    
    The girls’ school was the first dedicated girls’ technical school in Victoria. As early as 1915 Sunshine Technical College was offering education for girls and women, with typewriting, shorthand and bookkeeping classes. A girls’ school was formally established in 1921, with its own headmistress. When Emily McPherson College opened in 1927, Sunshine Girls’ Technical School became a feeder school. The girls’ school building (Nash Block) opened in 1940.
    
    

    Timeline

     | 1904-1907 | H.V. McKay relocates the operations of his company, Sunshine Harvester Works, to Braybrook Junction. The suburb is renamed Sunshine, after the company.
     | 1910 | Education Act passed in Victorian Parliament, vesting control of junior technical education with the State Education Department.
     | 1911 | McKay agrees to provide land and an endowment to establish a technical school in Sunshine. He also offers his apprentices half day a week to train there.
     | 1913 | Sunshine Junior and Senior Technical School opened, with McKay president of the school council.
     | 1915 | Start of girls’ education at Sunshine Technical, with typewriting, shorthand and bookkeeping classes.
     | 1917 | McKay initiates a scheme to retrain repatriated servicemen at Sunshine Technical College. This serves as a model for the Vocational retraining scheme operated by the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Commission between 1918 and 1928.
     | 1919 | Sunshine Technical College is used as a temporary hospital during the influenza epidemic. 
     | 1921 | Formal establishment of the Sunshine Technical Girls’ School.
     | 1926 | McKay dies.
     | 1930 | Sunshine Harvester Works merges with Massey-Harris. 
     | 1938 | Tender granted by Public Works Department to construct a new building (the Girls’ School).
     | 1940 | Girls’ School building (Nash Block) is officially opened in October.
     | 1941 | Brick workshop constructed for the Commonwealth Defence Technical Training Scheme. 
     | 1945 | Tender granted by Public Works Department for additions to south and east of the 1941 workshop to become Henty Boy’s Trade Wing.
     | 1947 | Henty Wing completed.
     | 1953 | Massey-Harris amalgamates with Harry Ferguson.
     | 1963 | Auditorium opened.
     | 1980s | 1913 buildings demolished. New three-storey brutalist building constructed between the Nash Block and Henty Boy’s Trade Wing. The three-storey Ferguson Wing was constructed to the south of the Henty Wing. 
     | 1986 | Massey Ferguson complex (formerly Sunshine Harvester Works) is sold.
     | 1991 | Sunshine Technical School closed. The campus becomes a campus for VCE students at the new Sunshine Secondary College.
     | 2020 | Sunshine Secondary College moves to a new, consolidated campus. 

    
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    [1] Until 1905 only independent schools offered classes beyond the primary level. The first government-funded secondary school was the Melbourne Continuation School. It was the only state secondary school operating until the passing of the Education Act 1910. The Act established two new branches of state schooling- a secondary division, and a technical division. The secondary division established what we would now call state high schools, focused on ‘liberal arts’ and professional skills, while the technical division administered junior technical schools, focused on practical training. The division between the secondary and technical divisions was abolished in the early 1980s.

    
    

    
    

    Permit Exemptions

    FORMER SUNSHINE TECHNICAL SCHOOL - Permit Exemptions

    General Exemptions:

    General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

    Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

    Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

    Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

    Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

    Specific Exemptions:

    Specific Permit Exemptions

    The works and activities below are not considered to cause harm to the cultural heritage significance of the Former Sunshine Technical College subject to the following guidelines and conditions:
    
    

    Guidelines

    1.       Where there is an inconsistency between permit exemptions specific to the registered place or object (‘specific exemptions’) established in accordance with either section 49(3) or section 92(3) of the Act and general exemptions established in accordance with section 92(1) of the Act specific exemptions will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.

    
    2.       In specific exemptions, words have the same meaning as in the Act, unless otherwise indicated. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and the Act, the Act will prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.

    
    3.       Nothing in specific exemptions obviates the responsibility of a proponent to obtain the consent of the owner of the registered place or object, or if the registered place or object is situated on Crown Land the land manager as defined in the Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978, prior to undertaking works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions.

    
    4.       If a Cultural Heritage Management Plan in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 is required for works covered by specific exemptions, specific exemptions will apply only if the Cultural Heritage Management Plan has been approved prior to works or activities commencing. Where there is an inconsistency between specific exemptions and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for the relevant works and activities, Heritage Victoria must be contacted for advice on the appropriate approval pathway.

    
    5.       Specific exemptions do not constitute approvals, authorisations or exemptions under any other legislation, Local Government, State Government or Commonwealth Government requirements, including but not limited to the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth). Nothing in this declaration exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to obtain relevant planning, building or environmental approvals from the responsible authority where applicable.

    
    6.       Care should be taken when working with heritage buildings and objects, as historic fabric may contain dangerous and poisonous materials (for example lead paint and asbestos). Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn at all times. If you are unsure, seek advice from a qualified heritage architect, heritage consultant or local Council heritage advisor

    
    7.       The presence of unsafe materials (for example asbestos, lead paint etc) at a registered place or object does not automatically exempt remedial works or activities in accordance with this category. Approvals under Part 5 of the Act must be obtained to undertake works or activities that are not expressly exempted by the below specific exemptions.

    
    8.       All works should be informed by a Conservation Management Plan prepared for the place or object. The Executive Director is not bound by any Conservation Management Plan and permits still must be obtained for works suggested in any Conservation Management Plan.

    
    

    Conditions

    1.       All works or activities permitted under specific exemptions must be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents harm to the registered place or object. Harm includes moving, removing or damaging any part of the registered place or object that contributes to its cultural heritage significance.

    
    2.       If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the registered place are revealed relating to its cultural heritage significance, including but not limited to historical archaeological remains, such as features, deposits or artefacts, then works must cease and Heritage Victoria notified as soon as possible.

    
    3.       If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any Aboriginal cultural heritage is discovered or exposed at any time, all works must cease and the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006) must be contacted immediately to ascertain requirements under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

    
    4.       If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any munitions or other potentially explosive artefacts are discovered, Victoria Police is to be immediately alerted and the site is to be immediately cleared of all personnel.

    
    5.       If during the carrying out of works or activities in accordance with specific exemptions any suspected human remains are found the works or activities must cease. The remains must be left in place and protected from harm or damage. Victoria Police and the State Coroner’s Office must be notified immediately. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that the remains are Aboriginal, the State Emergency Control Centre must be immediately notified on 1300 888 544, and, as required under s.17(3)(b) of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, all details about the location and nature of the human remains must be provided to the Secretary (as defined in the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006).

     

    EXEMPT WORKS AND ACTIVITIES

    
    

    Works and activities to the Nash Block and Henty Wing

    1.       Removal of the brise-soleils on the Henty Wing.

    
    2.       Removal of temporary hoarding to the Nash Block.

    
    3.       Painting of previously painted interior surfaces in any colour or finish with an appropriate product type to closely match the existing.

    
    4.       Removal, maintenance or repair of later floor finishes, suspended ceilings and nonoriginal light fittings.

    
    5.       Removal, maintenance, repair or replacement of post-1960 joinery.
    
    

    
    

    Services and utilities to the Nash Block and Henty Wing

    6.       Maintenance, repair, removal or installation of new or updated services and utilities, limited to internet services (wifi antenna and routers etc), audiovisual equipment, fire detection and prevention, surveillance, communication or alarm systems aimed at safety and security provided that:

    
    ·         New fittings are only exempt for fixing to smooth render or plaster, painted timber or mortar joints in brick.

    
    ·         Any penetrations must be discretely located and be minimal in number.

    
    
    

    Buildings constructed or moved to the site after 1960:

    7.      All internal works.

    
    8.      Repairs, maintenance, removal or demolition insofar as these works do not affect the fabric of the Nash Block or Henty Wing.

    
    9.      Exterior painting or replacement of cladding materials.

    
    

    
    

    Below ground services

    10.   New trenches and bores for the provision of services and utilities, provided there is no impact on early or original fabric. Must not remove or disturb ground-surface masonry associated with the registered place.
    
    

    
    

    Landscape / outdoor areas

    11.   All repairs and maintenance to hard landscaping (for example, paths, driveways etc).

    
    12.   Installation of wayfinding or heritage interpretation signage

    
    13.   Replacement of outdoor furniture in the same location.

    
    14.   Removal, maintenance, replacement and installation of new ground surfacing treatments (for example, asphalt, concrete, safety matting) provided it is not within the front setback of the Nash Block.

    
    
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