Victoria College, Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Victoria College was a College of Advanced Education
(CAE) in Melbourne, Australia. It was created as a result of the merger on December 23 1981 of the State College of Victoria colleges at Burwood, Rusden and Toorak with the Prahran College of Advanced Education. In doing so, it became the largest College of Advanced Education
in eastern Melbourne
.
It ceased to be at midnight January 1 1992. Most of it became part of Deakin University
, while one campus joined Swinburne Institute of Technology
and its Fine Art courses went to the Victorian College of the Arts
.
At its foundation, it was primarily a teachers college. At its end, it had a diverse range of courses in a broad range of subjects.
In the beginning, it was expected by the State Government that the Prahran campus would close, with its facilities going to the TAFE college and its courses to other Victoria campuses. However, this did not occur, in part because of that campus's extensive specialist facilities.
At its founding in 1981, 75% of the college's students were enrolled in teaching courses. It diversified during its ten years, taking on many language, business and nursing course students. In 1988, only 65% of students were studying teaching. In 1991, the figure was 42%.
In 1983, the Armadale campus closed.
In 1990, the college purchased the Allambie children's home from the State Government. It was adjacent to the Burwood campus.
Research in 1990 found that the college's students mainly lived in eastern and southern Melbourne, and on the Mornington Peninsula
. Students residing in the outer east found it particularly popular. It was suggested that this was due to their relative disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
One of the rules was that all institutions on the same site were to merge. This meant that in almost all proposals, Rusden would become part of Monash University
. However, the most supported of the early floated plans was a merger of all the other campuses with Swinburne Institute of Technology
. A sticking point was that Swinburne required the Victoria campuses to almost completely stop teaching humanities, and focus on science and technology courses. Victoria College refused this condition in May 1989, and the deal fell apart.
After this proposal waned, a complete merger with Monash was strongly mooted and supported by the university. A Commonwealth task force in April 1989 supported this move, but with the Prahran campus transferring to TAFE and the Toorak campus closing. In 1990, State Education Minister Joan Kirner
expressed that a Monash merger was what the State and Commonwealth had always wanted. However by 1990, Monash appeared lukewarm about a merger.
At this point, the option of Deakin arose. Deakin, with its two campuses at Geelong and Warrnambool (in process), was concerned that it would become by far the smallest university in Victoria, less than half the size of the next smallest one in Swinburne. It suggested a deal with Victoria College. In July 1990, a state government report still preferred a Monash merger, but thought a Deakin deal would also be appropriate.
The final deal approved by Victoria College was to lose Rusden to Monash, and merge with Deakin. However the parliament decided instead to keep Rusden, move Prahran's Fine Arts courses to the Victorian College of the Arts
, move the business and finance courses to Deakin, and the Prahran campus to Swinburne.
So in the end, on December 31 1991, the Burwood, Rusden and Toorak campuses (plus the college's corporate body) merged with Deakin University
.
The Prahran campus, along with Prahran College of TAFE (co-located with the Prahran campus), were absorbed by Swinburne Institute of Technology
on January 1 1992. Six months later, this became Swinburne University of Technology
. http://www.aair.org.au/jir/Nov93/Ng1.pdfhttp://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/highered/postsece/Swinburne_Com_engagement_July05jw.pdf
's Clayton
campus in 2004. The site now offers student accommodation. http://www.rusdenhouse.com/ The courses at Rusden were transferred to Deakin's Burwood campus.
The Toorak campus ceased operations in 2007. Like Rusden, its courses were relocated to Deakin's Burwood campus and the property was sold to developers. Much of the site is to become private housing, while the future use of the heritage protected Stonnington
mansion is uncertain.
, was founded in 1950. It later became Larnook Teachers College, but retained the domestic arts specialisation.
The Monash Teachers College was a secondary teachers college on the Rusden campus site, founded in 1961. It was founded because Monash University's initial enrolment for teaching was greater than its facilities could support, and establishing a separate college on the same site was more cost effective for the state government than enlarging facilities at the university.
The Glendonald School for Deaf Children was a school for the deaf in Kew
. One of its functions was to train teachers for the deaf. This aspect was known as Glendonald Teachers College and was established in 1954.
The State College of Victoria at Rusden was formed by the merger of these three colleges in 1975.
Burwood Teachers College began at the Box Hill Methodist Church in 1954 while waiting for its buildings to be ready. It moved to the current Burwood campus site in late 1954. The State College of Victoria at Burwood was formed by the merger of the Training Centre for Teachers of the Deaf with this college and the ex-Glendonald component of Rusden in 1976. The result was mainly a primary teaching college, with a special unit for disabled student teaching.
In 1951, Toorak Teachers' College was established in Toorak. It moved to the Stonnington mansion in Malvern in 1957. This later became the State College of Victoria at Toorak. This institution focused on primary teaching. In 1975 it absorbed Mercer House
(also known as Mercer College), a small private teachers college that trained teachers for independent schools.
The Prahran Mechanics Institute was established in 1856. An offshoot of this became the Prahran Technical Art School in 1915. This in turn became the Prahran Technical School in 1950 and the Prahran College of Technology in 1967. This then became the Prahran College of Advanced Education in 1974. It offered a wide range of higher education and TAFE courses (including degrees), with a focus on art and design. On December 9 1981, the TAFE component was spun off as the Prahran College of TAFE. http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/highered/postsece/Swinburne_Com_engagement_July05jw.pdf
College of Advanced Education
The College of Advanced Education was a class of Australian tertiary education institution that existed from 1967 until the early 1990s. They ranked below universities, but above Colleges of Technical and Further Education which offer trade qualification...
(CAE) in Melbourne, Australia. It was created as a result of the merger on December 23 1981 of the State College of Victoria colleges at Burwood, Rusden and Toorak with the Prahran College of Advanced Education. In doing so, it became the largest College of Advanced Education
College of Advanced Education
The College of Advanced Education was a class of Australian tertiary education institution that existed from 1967 until the early 1990s. They ranked below universities, but above Colleges of Technical and Further Education which offer trade qualification...
in eastern 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...
.
It ceased to be at midnight January 1 1992. Most of it became part of Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
, while one campus joined Swinburne Institute of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
and its Fine Art courses went to the Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
.
At its foundation, it was primarily a teachers college. At its end, it had a diverse range of courses in a broad range of subjects.
History
All the founding institutions had a single campus with the exception of Rusden which had two campuses: one in Clayton (known as "Rusden"), the other in Armadale.In the beginning, it was expected by the State Government that the Prahran campus would close, with its facilities going to the TAFE college and its courses to other Victoria campuses. However, this did not occur, in part because of that campus's extensive specialist facilities.
At its founding in 1981, 75% of the college's students were enrolled in teaching courses. It diversified during its ten years, taking on many language, business and nursing course students. In 1988, only 65% of students were studying teaching. In 1991, the figure was 42%.
In 1983, the Armadale campus closed.
In 1990, the college purchased the Allambie children's home from the State Government. It was adjacent to the Burwood campus.
Research in 1990 found that the college's students mainly lived in eastern and southern Melbourne, and on the Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
. Students residing in the outer east found it particularly popular. It was suggested that this was due to their relative disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
The end
In 1988, the Dawkins higher education reforms by the Commonwealth Government meant that just seven years after its establishment, Victoria College was to became part of a university. Which university was a matter for major debate between 1988 and 1991.One of the rules was that all institutions on the same site were to merge. This meant that in almost all proposals, Rusden would become part of Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. However, the most supported of the early floated plans was a merger of all the other campuses with Swinburne Institute of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
. A sticking point was that Swinburne required the Victoria campuses to almost completely stop teaching humanities, and focus on science and technology courses. Victoria College refused this condition in May 1989, and the deal fell apart.
After this proposal waned, a complete merger with Monash was strongly mooted and supported by the university. A Commonwealth task force in April 1989 supported this move, but with the Prahran campus transferring to TAFE and the Toorak campus closing. In 1990, State Education Minister Joan Kirner
Joan Kirner
Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...
expressed that a Monash merger was what the State and Commonwealth had always wanted. However by 1990, Monash appeared lukewarm about a merger.
At this point, the option of Deakin arose. Deakin, with its two campuses at Geelong and Warrnambool (in process), was concerned that it would become by far the smallest university in Victoria, less than half the size of the next smallest one in Swinburne. It suggested a deal with Victoria College. In July 1990, a state government report still preferred a Monash merger, but thought a Deakin deal would also be appropriate.
The final deal approved by Victoria College was to lose Rusden to Monash, and merge with Deakin. However the parliament decided instead to keep Rusden, move Prahran's Fine Arts courses to the Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
, move the business and finance courses to Deakin, and the Prahran campus to Swinburne.
So in the end, on December 31 1991, the Burwood, Rusden and Toorak campuses (plus the college's corporate body) merged with Deakin University
Deakin University
Deakin University is an Australian public university with nearly 40,000 higher education students in 2010. It receives more than A$600 million in operating revenue annually, and controls more than A$1.3 billion in assets. It received more than A$35 million in research income in 2009 and had 835...
.
The Prahran campus, along with Prahran College of TAFE (co-located with the Prahran campus), were absorbed by Swinburne Institute of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
on January 1 1992. Six months later, this became Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology
Swinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
. http://www.aair.org.au/jir/Nov93/Ng1.pdfhttp://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/highered/postsece/Swinburne_Com_engagement_July05jw.pdf
Campuses post merger
The Rusden campus, while initially part of Deakin, became part of Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
's Clayton
Clayton, Victoria
Clayton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 19 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Monash. At the 2006 Census, Clayton had a population of 14,332.-Overview:...
campus in 2004. The site now offers student accommodation. http://www.rusdenhouse.com/ The courses at Rusden were transferred to Deakin's Burwood campus.
The Toorak campus ceased operations in 2007. Like Rusden, its courses were relocated to Deakin's Burwood campus and the property was sold to developers. Much of the site is to become private housing, while the future use of the heritage protected Stonnington
Stonington mansion
Stonington is a private residence and former Australian Government House located in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern, at 336 Glenferrie Road. The house was built for John Wagner, a partner in Cobb and Co coaches...
mansion is uncertain.
Antecedents
Larnook Domestic Arts Teachers' College at the Larnook mansion, ArmadaleArmadale
-Places in Australia:*Armadale, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne*Armadale, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth*City of Armadale*Electoral district of Armadale*Armidale, New South Wales -Rail in Australia:...
, was founded in 1950. It later became Larnook Teachers College, but retained the domestic arts specialisation.
The Monash Teachers College was a secondary teachers college on the Rusden campus site, founded in 1961. It was founded because Monash University's initial enrolment for teaching was greater than its facilities could support, and establishing a separate college on the same site was more cost effective for the state government than enlarging facilities at the university.
The Glendonald School for Deaf Children was a school for the deaf in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
. One of its functions was to train teachers for the deaf. This aspect was known as Glendonald Teachers College and was established in 1954.
The State College of Victoria at Rusden was formed by the merger of these three colleges in 1975.
Burwood Teachers College began at the Box Hill Methodist Church in 1954 while waiting for its buildings to be ready. It moved to the current Burwood campus site in late 1954. The State College of Victoria at Burwood was formed by the merger of the Training Centre for Teachers of the Deaf with this college and the ex-Glendonald component of Rusden in 1976. The result was mainly a primary teaching college, with a special unit for disabled student teaching.
In 1951, Toorak Teachers' College was established in Toorak. It moved to the Stonnington mansion in Malvern in 1957. This later became the State College of Victoria at Toorak. This institution focused on primary teaching. In 1975 it absorbed Mercer House
Mercer House
The Mercer House, now called the Mercer-Williams House Museum, is located at 429 Bull Street and stands at the southwest end of Monterey Square, in Savannah, Georgia. The house was the scene of the shooting death of Jim Williams' assistant, Danny Hansford, a story that is retold in the 1994 John...
(also known as Mercer College), a small private teachers college that trained teachers for independent schools.
The Prahran Mechanics Institute was established in 1856. An offshoot of this became the Prahran Technical Art School in 1915. This in turn became the Prahran Technical School in 1950 and the Prahran College of Technology in 1967. This then became the Prahran College of Advanced Education in 1974. It offered a wide range of higher education and TAFE courses (including degrees), with a focus on art and design. On December 9 1981, the TAFE component was spun off as the Prahran College of TAFE. http://www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/highered/postsece/Swinburne_Com_engagement_July05jw.pdf