The Victorian School of Forestry

M McKinty

The Victorian School of Forestry came about through the inspiration and initiative of John Johnstone, Superintendent of State Plantations in the 1900s.  The School was located in the former Creswick hospital, built in 1863 and bought in 1910 by the Victorian Government under the-then Premier Sir Alexander Peacock, representative for the seat of Creswick.

 

 

The School's main gates were dedicated to Sir Alexander on 10 October 1952. The Minister for Lands and Forests, Sir Albert Lind, performed the dedication and opening ceremony which was reported in detail by the Creswick Advertiser; a copy of which can be read here and a video of the ceremony can be viewed here.

Initially, the school was located in Tremearne House (1881) - the former residence of Dr John Tremearne who was the medical officer for the hospital.  Located in the grounds of the hospital, it was purchased by the Department of State Forests in 1909 for £1,163 7s 3d.  The first intake of six students started lectures in October 1910.

Picture of Postcard - Tremearne House
1910
Source: State Library Victoria

Forestry School opening ceremony at Tremearne House, 28 October 1910
Source: FCRPA

Tremearne House and the Victorian School of Forestry, 1915
Source: FCRPA

The Victorian School of Forestry, 1918
Source: FCRPA

The Department of State Forests 1911 Annual Report notes:

"The Forest School was opened for lectures in October of last year, the nucleus of the staff of instructors requisite being obtained from the School of Mines, Ballarat. The class-subjects taught are botany, geology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and surveying. In the latter subject practical instruction is also given in the field, and laboratory work for the chemistry class is provided at the School of Mines. The lecturers report well of the aptitude shown by the students in class work, and of their general progress during the year. At present we have to break into the winter term in order to give the students experience in general plantation work in various districts. Next year, however, with a larger number of students, and more ordinary planters trained to this work, it will be possible to keep the plantation class at Creswick. We have been much hampered at the School by lack of accommodation, especially in the matter of dormitories. The Government have recently authorized the transfer to the Forest Department of the premises now occupied as a hospital at Creswick. This is a large quadrangular structure of stone and brick, which occupies a fine site overlooking the town, and is close to the present school. The several buildings comprise 26 rooms, including large subdivisions suitable for the purpose of lectures and a museum. A forest reserve of some 12,000 acres is within a mile of the school, while plantations which already exceed 800 acres, together with a large forest nursery, are hard by. When this roomy structure is properly equipped, and the teaching staff for technical subjects is strengthened, the chief requirements essential for sound tuition in forestry will have been provided."

Over the period 1910 to 1979, 592 students entered the School to undertake studies towards the Diploma of Forestry Creswick.  Of these, 522 completed the course. A list of those graduates can be found here.  When the 1979 entrants completed their studies in 1981, the Diploma of Forestry course was terminated.  The twelve students who completed the first year of the Diploma course in 1979 transferred to the second year of the Degree course at Melbourne University in 1980. 

Many of the Diploma students went on to further studies with Melbourne University and other tertiary institutions and/or completed major theses, on-the-job, to achieve the Diploma of Forestry Victoria.  A list of Melbourne University Forestry graduates from 1943-80 can be found here.

Over the years, several of the students who did not complete the Diploma course also found employment with the FCV.