Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy
Encyclopedia
The Emily McPherson College of Domestic Economy was an Australian domestic science
college for women, in Melbourne
, Victoria
.
It was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
, the Duchess of York
, and later Queen Consort
.
On 30 June 1979 it became part of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
.
businessman Sir William McPherson
donated £25,000 (≈A$
1.5 million today) towards the establishment of a college of domestic science exclusively for women; which was later named in honour of his wife Lady Emily McPherson.
The building opened in 1927, and was designed by then state architect Evan Smith, in simplified Neo-Grec
architecture and Beaux-Arts style. The Ethel McPherson Wing opened in 1950, and was designed by then state architect Percy Everett.
and Victoria Street
adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
, was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
, the Duchess of York
, during a royal visit to Australia by her and her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Duke of York
, later King George VI.
The Age
newspaper later estimated that a crowd of 5,000 people and dignitaries gathered outside the new College, with a guard of honour formed by students from schools as far afield as Ballarat and Bendigo, to witness the Duchess officially open the College with a gold
key and unveil a commemorative plaque
and bust of Lady McPherson:
Dr Ethel Osborne, who had invited the Duchess to open the College, then presented her with the first diploma
issued by the College stating that the Duchess "had set all Australians an example of home life". Upon accepting the diploma, the Duchess thanked Dr Osborne and said "it will always be a delightful memento but one of which I am afraid I am not worthy!".
The building is registered as "significant" and a "notable building" with the Victorian Heritage Register
and the National Trust of Australia
.
Family and consumer science
Family and consumer sciences is an academic discipline that combines aspects of social and natural science. Family and consumer sciences deals with the relationship between individuals, families, and communities, and the environment in which they live...
college for women, in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
It was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Duchess of York
Duchess of York
Duchess of York is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of York. The title is gained with marriage alone and is forfeited upon divorce. Four of the twelve Dukes of York did not marry or had already assumed the throne prior to marriage, therefore there have only ever been eleven...
, and later Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
.
On 30 June 1979 it became part of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
.
History of the College
During the 1920s, MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
businessman Sir William McPherson
William Murray McPherson
Sir William Murray McPherson, KBE was an Australian philanthropist and politician. He was the 31st Premier of Victoria....
donated £25,000 (≈A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
1.5 million today) towards the establishment of a college of domestic science exclusively for women; which was later named in honour of his wife Lady Emily McPherson.
The building opened in 1927, and was designed by then state architect Evan Smith, in simplified Neo-Grec
Neo-Grec
Neo-Grec is a term referring to late manifestations of Neoclassicism, early Neo-Renaissance now called the Greek Revival style, which was popularized in architecture, the decorative arts, and in painting during France's Second Empire, or the reign of Napoleon III, a period that lasted...
architecture and Beaux-Arts style. The Ethel McPherson Wing opened in 1950, and was designed by then state architect Percy Everett.
Opening
The College, on the corner of Russell StreetRussell Street, Melbourne
Russell Street is a north-south street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia, part of the Hoddle Grid laid out in 1837. At its southern end it intersects with Flinders Street and Federation Square, while at its northern end it becomes Lygon Street, a street famous for its...
and Victoria Street
Victoria Street, Melbourne
Victoria Street is one of the major thoroughfares of inner Melbourne. Running east to west, Victoria Street touches the Hoddle Grid at the intersection of La Trobe Street and Spring Street, opposite the Carlton Gardens. It runs from its terminus at the intersection of Munster Terrace in North...
adjacent to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
, was officially opened on 27 April 1927 by Her Royal Highness Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
, the Duchess of York
Duchess of York
Duchess of York is the principal courtesy title held by the wife of the Duke of York. The title is gained with marriage alone and is forfeited upon divorce. Four of the twelve Dukes of York did not marry or had already assumed the throne prior to marriage, therefore there have only ever been eleven...
, during a royal visit to Australia by her and her husband, His Royal Highness Prince Albert, the Duke of York
Duke of York
The Duke of York is a title of nobility in the British peerage. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of the British monarch. The title has been created a remarkable eleven times, eight as "Duke of York" and three as the double-barreled "Duke of York and...
, later King George VI.
The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
newspaper later estimated that a crowd of 5,000 people and dignitaries gathered outside the new College, with a guard of honour formed by students from schools as far afield as Ballarat and Bendigo, to witness the Duchess officially open the College with a gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
key and unveil a commemorative plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
and bust of Lady McPherson:
Dr Ethel Osborne, who had invited the Duchess to open the College, then presented her with the first diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
issued by the College stating that the Duchess "had set all Australians an example of home life". Upon accepting the diploma, the Duchess thanked Dr Osborne and said "it will always be a delightful memento but one of which I am afraid I am not worthy!".
Present college building
On 30 June 1979, the building was amalgamated with the nearby expanding Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Today, it remains a part of the RMIT City campus, and has been refurbished to house the RMIT Graduate School of Business.The building is registered as "significant" and a "notable building" with the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
and the National Trust of Australia
National Trust of Australia
The Australian Council of National Trusts is the peak body for community-based, non-government organisations committed to promoting and conserving Australia's indigenous, natural and historic heritage....
.