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Adelaide Educational Institution was a privately run non-sectarian academy for boys in Adelaide founded in 1852 by John Lorenzo Young.
He avoided rote learning, punishment and religious instruction, but taught moral philosophy, physiology, political economy and mechanical drawing ... (and) surveying on field trips.
The school closed when he retired in 1880. By this time Prince Alfred College had emerged as a suitable school for well-to-do Protestants to send their sons.
History
In 1852 Young opened a school with two, then three pupils (Hubert Giles, Caleb Peacock and John Partridge) in the "Peacock Chapel" lent by Mr Peacock in the rear of the (Congregational) Ebenezer Chapel in Ebenezer Place, off the east end of Rundle Street. The number grew to seventeen at years end. and he was advertising for evening classes in Geometry and Arithmetic, apply between 6 and 7pm at Stephens Place, off the west end of Rundle Street where the Young family had a home, and to which street the school moved, perhaps as early as 1854. Fees for day students were 10 guineas (£10/10/-) per annum, (payable quarterly in advance). Facilities were available for boarding. His residence was also located on Stephens Place. By December 1855 the school had 107 students, perhaps close to 200 in 1857, 130 in 1862, 133 in 1868.
In 1872 he had new premises built at Parkside on what became Young Street, named after the headmaster.
E. S. Hughes recalled, in a letter to The Advertiser, a tableau of life during his time at the institution.
About that time I was at the late J. L. Young's – at Young's Lane, as it was then called – Parkside, as a boarder, and with three other strong Churchmen used to attend St Paul's Church, Flinders Street. Dear old Dean Russell, of blessed memory, wished us to be confirmed; and, as our parents agreed, we escaped from lessons two nights a week to attend classes. Consequently we had a good time going home afterwards, on some occasions climbing the posts and 'dousing the glim' as the sailors say, performing other boyish tricks, and arriving very late because of such 'awfully long classes'
Education in early South Australia
(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)
From a welter of amateur establishments emerged two institutions, one of which did noble service to two generations, the other the germ of one of the colony's greatest denominational schools today. The first was John Lorenzo Young's Adelaide Educational Institute, which in its peregrinations from a room at the rear of Ebenezer Chapel (now built over by the East End Market), by way of Stephens Place and Gawler Place, to a final home at Young Street, Parkside, educated 1,500 young South Australians many of later distinction – Caleb Peacock, Adelaide's first native-born Mayor, Charles Cameron Kingston, the dominating figure on the colony's political horizon and Joseph Verco, doyen of our medical fraternity. The other institution was the crib in which St Peter's College was created.
John Lorenzo Young (1826–1881) was a Londoner, the son of John Tonkin Young, a builder from Veryan, Cornwall.
He received a non-sectarian education in Europe and England, with emphasis on mathematics and the newly developed sciences of geology, physics and chemistry. He worked in Cornwall on railway and mining construction then left for Adelaide in 1850. on the ship "Panama", arriving on 31 October 1850. He joined the rush to the Victorian goldfields but soon returned.
In 1851 he was appointed second master at the newly opened South Australian High School, under Headmaster Charles Gregory Feinaigle (1817? – 10 March 1880), but the venture failed by the end of the year. The following year Young was persuaded by a group of Congregationalists to open his own school at the rear of the old chapel in Ebenezer Street off Rundle Street East, and soon moved to larger premises in Stephens Place. His brother, Oliver Young, held classes for some time, and acted as headmaster in 1860 while J. L. Young was away on recuperation leave.
In 1861 he built the large two-storey "Young House" in Parkside, which was used both as his private residence and as a student boarding house. He then commissioned architects Wright and Hamilton to design and oversee building of a schoolhouse next door. (Edmund Wright had designed many prominent Adelaide buildings including the Town Hall). In 1871 he was able to relinquish the Freeman Street premises.
John retired in 1880 and closed the school, with the intention of joining his wife and large family who were visiting brother Oliver and his father in Veryan, in Cornwall. On his retirement, a testimonial was held 17 December 1880 by his old scholars, and he was presented with a purse of sovereigns. His 16-room residence, with schoolhouse and various other houses on Young Street, after several auction attempts in February 1881, was eventually purchased by Alfred Allen Simpson (who coincidentally had also purchased the Gawler Place school property). The two Parkside buildings, at 61-71 Young Street, were sold by Alfred A., Fred N. and Violet Laura Simpson to Mr. C. O. A. Lapidge in 1922. "Young House" has since been demolished but the heritage-listed schoolhouse still stands.
He embarked on the steamer John Elder in 1881 to visit England (where his father was still living), his family having preceded him, but died on 26 July 1881 while crossing the Red Sea. He was buried at sea. Martha returned to Adelaide, at first living in Kent Town then settled in Glenelg. She died 6 April 1887 aged 57."Death of Mrs J. L. Young". South Australian Register. Vol. LII, no. 12, 606. South Australia. 9 April 1887. p. 5. Retrieved 25 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
Fred W. Sims, formerly Deputy Registrar of Companies in the Supreme Court, wrote in The Advertiser:
I could tell you quite a lot about John L. Young's school— 'dear old Johnny', as we used to call him ... Mr. Young possessed, among his other fine qualities, the saving grace of humor. It is recorded that his first two pupils were Caleb Peacock and John Partridge. He remarked at the time that, whether he met with success or not as a schoolmaster, he would anyway die "game".
Young's work in South Australia is commemorated by scholarships at the University of Adelaide for research in political economy.
Classes and curriculum
In its first stage of the school's history, Junior (or Third) Class consisted of boys from 7 to 10 years, Science being a chief subject with (although a non-sectarian school) a little religious insight. A small but significant number of students were Orthodox Jews (e.g. Solomon family). No homework was set.
In the Second Class, homework was encouraged and after five hours of schoolwork the more industrious students would voluntarily turn in up to four long essays a week.
In Senior or First Class, subjects covered included political economy, history.
Masters
Other academics at the Institution included:
Thomas Boutflower Bennett (1808 – 14 September 1894), nicknamed "Tiger", helped run the school, taught English and bookkeeping, later at St Peter's College. His headstone in Moonta cemetery mentions SPC but not AEI. His son J. W. O. Bennett was killed on the Goyder expedition of 1869.
Thomas Caterer (around 1854) went on to found the notable Norwood Grammar School
C. J. Fox taught Latin from 1868 to 1871 at least. He would later, as the editor and proprietor of The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald newspaper, become famous after the sacking and excommunication Sister Mary MacKillop by Bishop Sheil. He was ousted from the Catholic Association, of which he was president. for the candid way in which he reported the affair. Frank Fox was a son.
Henry Greffrath taught French and German from beginning 1852 to mid-1863. He also conducted classes at St Peter's College, and left for Jena, Germany in 1864.
Wilton Hack succeeded Charles Hill as drawing teacher 1868 W. Hack also taught drawing at Norwood Grammar and St Peter's College.
A teacher named Harrison, called "Cocky" by students (as was Oliver Young); described as young and pimply, was sacked for drunkenness at a June prizegiving, possibly 1856. A later commentator found him memorable.
Philip T. Hill taught writing and arithmetic NOT drawing (perhaps Philip Trelore Hill, married Hannah Fisk in 1869, died 1919), he later taught at Langhorne Creek and Goolwa, and highly regarded.
G. R. Irwine (d. 7 October 1871) taught Latin, Greek and English.
Rev. Thomas Smellie (pronounced "smiley") Presbyterian minister arrived Adelaide 1861, registered to grant marriage licences 1862, taught Latin at AEI from 1863 to 1866. Founded Gawler Academy 1868 licence to marry rescinded 1870; returned to Britain 1872.
Oliver Young (J. L. Young's brother) taught drawing, ran the school in 1860 during his brother's absence. Oliver, whom the students called "Cocky", though not to his face, suffered from a deformed back. He returned to Cornwall in 1866, and never married.
Timeline
1852 School opens in Ebenezer Place with two students Caleb Peacock and John Partridge, soon joined by G. T. and T. L. Cottrell, John Waterman and Richard Mahoney.
1853 Moved to "Stephens Place" schoolroom at rear of Freeman Street Congregational chapel on the southwest corner of Town Acre 19.
1860 J. L. Young in poor health, on leave in England. Oliver Young acting head for the year.
1861 J. L. Young returns, buys 2 acres in Parkside. T. B. Bennett joins staff.
1865 Old Scholars' Association dinner
1866 Oliver Young returns to England
Old Scholars' Association dinner
1867 Congregational Church moves to Stow Hall, AEI takes over Freeman Street chapel.
First Old Scholars' dinner
Old Scholars' AGM
1868 Pupil numbers down to 133
1869 The Star first (and last?) issue
Old Scholars' dinner
1870 Old Scholars dinner
Old Scholars' annual meeting scheduled for 24 June postponed to following week due to poor attendance
1871 All teaching now at Young Street, Parkside. T. B. Bennett resigns.
Old Scholars' dinner poor attendance
1872 Old Scholars' dinner 12 attendees
1880 Presentation to Thomas Bennett >30 attendees
1880 School closes
1881 J. L. Young dies
1887 Mrs Young dies
1896 Funeral of Caleb Peacock
1897 Stephens Place buildings demolished (a beaut reminiscence)
Reunions
A group of old scholars felt it appropriate to establish a memorial for J. L. Young, and from 1912 held a series of annual reunion dinners to raise funds for the memorial.
1912 Reunion It was at this reunion that Peter Wood moved that a J. L. Young scholarship be established.
1913 Second reunion
1914 Third reunion
1915 Fourth reunion
1916 Fifth reunion
1917 Sixth reunion
1918 Seventh reunion
Function for Eden Herschel Babbage 21 May 1918
1919 Eighth reunion
1920 Ninth reunion
1921 Tenth reunion
1925 reunion
Some students
Heroes of the SS Gothenburg wreck Robert Brazil, John Cleland & James Fitzgerald, 1875.
Many of Young's alumni became leading figures in Adelaide's businesses and public service.
An academic certificate awarded to Charles Kingston from the Adelaide Educational Institution
Thomas William Babbage (4 October 1859 – 1945) manager of the Glenelg Railway Company, later nurseryman, relationship to B. Herschel Babbage not yet established.
Harry Robin Guerin (1856 – 22 May 1935), private accountant to George Debney and Patrick Gay. He was a founder of SA Society of Accountants, auditor for St Peters Council, many others. A daughter married Rodney Cockburn.
Charles Tucker Mayor and MP; while customs agent for John Martin & Co. was found guilty of defrauding Customs Department after South Australia's longest criminal trial.
Henry B. White and Richard B. White (leader of Philharmonic Society) drowned in Gulf St Vincent boating accident. They were sons of George White owner of White's assembly rooms.
Sidney George Wilcox, pastoralist and director of George Wilcox & Co, helped found St Ann's College for female students at the University of Adelaide.
Alfred Wilkinson (1863–1922), merchant who in 1894 purchased a controlling interest in the glass business of H. L. Vosz and developed it into the company that became A. E. Clarkson & Co.
Thomas Young jun. mayor of Port Augusta, son of Thomas Young MHA (not related to J. L. Young)
Old Scholars Association
(First AGM) held 15 Dec 1863 at Mr. J. L. Young's school room, Stephens-place; Mr. E. Cheetham occupied the chair. Satisfactory reports were received with reference to the success of the association. Annual prize awarded to Edward Neale Wigg. Elected: C. Peacock, President; M. L. Clark, Treasurer; Joseph Coulls, Secretary; and E. Cheetham, Walter Samson, Wm. Bickford, A. K. Whitby, and G. Cottrell.
Prizegivings and examinations
J. L. Young held twice-yearly public demonstrations, mostly held in White's Rooms, which showcased the boys' accomplishments to parents and the public. A report was published as news in the newspapers immediately after, and always in glowing terms, the copy being provided by the school. Any flaws in the operation of the school and the training of eager young minds were only hinted at in retrospect – by pronouncements on the great strides made in the current year.
There were so many other schools that copied his example that the newspapers soon recognised these reports for what they were – advertisements – and charged by the column-inch. No longer were the speeches by the headmaster and the visiting dignitary quoted verbatim and, sadly for the historian, the only students named were the recipients of prizes.
Sports
The school fielded a soccer team, two cricket teams and was a proponent of the Old Adelaide Football Club rules in 1865.
A game of football was played on the school grounds, Parkside, against North Adelaide Grammar on 17 May 1873. The score of nil-all suggests the game was soccer.
The first school Sports Day was held in November 1874. Prizes included silver pencil cases and gold shirt studs.
Other Adelaide private schools of the period
This list is not exhaustive. Many schools changed location, identity and management. And there were many women of culture and attainment, particularly widows (such as Caroline Carleton), who subsisted on their earnings as tutors.
Pastor Jacob Abbott, wife, daughter and son Joseph kept a school on Gilbert Street, opposite Draper Memorial Church.
Adelaide Collegiate School in North Adelaide, run by Rev. Thomas Field. Incorporated into Queen's School 1892.
Adelaide Model School (Alexander Clark) not strictly private school, run by Council of Education
Albert House Academy – see Haire's Academy
Alix House Academy, 100 South Terrace run by Eliza Hill (died October 1918), wife of Charles Hill, artist (died September 1915)
Mrs. Bell's school
Billiatt's Grammar School at St Leonards, Glenelg
Bowden Day Schools (Methodist?) (Mr & Mrs Lawton)
Brougham School, Gilles Street c. 1869 (Thomas Stevens Burgan, died 3 July 1858, succeeded by son Thomas Burgan, also at Fellenberg Commercial School)
School run by W. A. Cawthorne on what was later Page Street, Adelaide, became Victoria Square Academy.
Christ Church School run by James Bath, later Secretary to the Central Board of Education
Church of England Collegiate School see St Peter's Collegiate School
Collegiate and Commercial Institute, Victoria Square 1860 see Haire's academy
Commercial School, Port Adelaide (Henry Nootnagel) later language master St Peter's College, later Prince Alfred College.
Commercial School run by Mr. Hutchins in Hindley Street
Deutsche Schule, Freeman St (von Schleinitz, then A. Hansen) 1851–52 then Flinders St to 1857; Wakefield Street, run by Theodor Niehuus and Adolph Leschen.
Mr Dollison's school, Port Adelaide.
Fellenberg Commercial School, Pulteney Street 1859–1861; Hindmarsh Square 1861–1866. Run by John Martin who moved to Melbourne, succeeded by James Morecott Holder ( – 1 November 1887) 1865–1866.
Gawler Place Academy for Young Ladies (Mrs H. Thornley) 1853 (Mrs C. Thornley) 1853–1856 near Grenfell Street, later Victoria Square/Flinders Street
Gouger Street Academy, James Hosking (c. 1822–1888)
Grote Street Model School (coeducational – many female students prominent in Adelaide University examinations 1878)
Haire's Academy, Albert House, Victoria Square then Collegiate Institute, Whitmore House, between Gilbert Street and South Terrace. (Francis Haire, died insolvent 1864)
Hill House School (E. W. Wickes, later G. W. Moore)
School run by Miss Hillier (later Mrs Taylor) North Terrace.
Mrs. Hillier's school, Brighton (Mr. John Hillier was on Register staff)
Mr Howard's Academy
Infant School, run by Mrs. Gawler in Morphett Street
James Jolly (died 3 November 1881)'s school in Waymouth Street (he later ran the Board of Education school at Encounter Bay then Port Elliot)
Mr King's Academy, Port Adelaide
St Leonards Grammar, Glenelg (W. K. Smart)
Mr Leslie's School
Mr McLaughlin's Public School, Port Adelaide
Maesbury House School, Kensington, conducted by Septimus Webster c. 1857
Mr. Martin's School, Pirie Street. 1852–1857, run by John Martin (c. 1814 – 9 July 1876), see also Fellenberg School above.
Martin's Grammar School, Port Adelaide, conducted by Allen Martin (12 August 1844 – 13 July 1924) 1870–1876 then as a State school 1877–1900.
Mr. Martin's school in two-storey house near the corner of Gilbert and King William streets.
Pulteney Street Central Schools (coeducational) 1847 (same as above?)
Queen's School, later Queen's College, 149 Barton Tce, North Adelaide (1892–1949) was founded by J. H. Lindon and E. L. Heinemann, both ex-St Peter's College, taking over the bulk of the students of Rev. Thomas Field's Adelaide Collegiate School.
Queenstown Commercial School
Miss Roland's school on Tavistock Street
Rundle Street Grammar (R. C. Mitton and W. J. Anderson) in Stephens Place from 1866 to 1872
St Peter's Collegiate School (previously Church of England Collegiate School)
Semaphore Collegiate School
Mr Shepherdson's school in the Parklands, later kept by Mr Oldham for the South Australian School Society of London
Stepney College
Miss Tilney's school, Grote Street, later Franklin Street at Captain Finnis's house.
Adelaide Educational InstitutionSouth Australian Register 15 December 1862 p.3 accessed 3 May 2011 also contains reference to growth of Philosophical Society
"South Australia". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. XXXVII, no. 6095. Tasmania, Australia. 22 December 1880. p. 2. Retrieved 25 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ "Notes and Queries". The Observer (Adelaide). Vol. LXX, no. 5, 464. South Australia. 22 November 1913. p. 45. Retrieved 29 September 2017 – via Trove. Some dubious assertions in this article.
^ The Diamond JubileeThe Advertiser 11 October 1912 p.11 accessed 19 March 2011
^ "Alfred Giles – Enjoying Life at 80". The Mail. Adelaide. 22 September 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 30 January 2013 – via Trove. This reference cites nicknames "Jack" Cleland and "Willie" Gosse
Chessell, Diana Adelaide's Dissenting Headmaster — John Lorenzo Young and his Premier Private School 2014; Wakefield Press, Kent Town, South Australia. ISBN978 1 74305 240 2
