Sloyd Room Audio Tour
Welcome to the Sloyd room. In 1899, a new subject was being promoted for primary schools in Victoria. News of a new system of manual instruction called Sloyd, had to come from Sweden and England. The subject had originated in 1850 as a training program for artisans. In 1898, an Australian called John Bryant studied at the slide Institute in Sweden. And on his return to Melbourne, commenced a course at Queensbury Street State School, North Melbourne. The object of the course was too train intelligence, to cultivate carefulness, self reliance, perseverance, and accustom the eye to accurate observation. Bryant subsequently instructed 20 teachers in a month long training course. The teachers were placed in Sloyd centres in Melbourne and suburbs as well as Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. Classes of 20 boys at a time practised at these centres for half a day each week. When Robert Hobbs was appointed Sloyd teacher to East Doncaster State School in 1920, he sought permission from the Education Department to build a Sloyd room at the school. The application was approved and Hobbs then trained at the Box Hill Sloyd Centre held in a small hall in Linsley Street. IN 1921, the Sloyd room was opened. The Education Department provided 2 workbenches and a set of 58 different types of woodwork tools. When the number of boys taking slide increased, additional benches were provided. When Sloyd was discontinued as a general curriculum subject in the 1960's, the Sloyd room became an additional classroom for a time and was eventually moved to this site in 1992
Source: Audio installed in room
Sloyd Room
Sloyd Room within Schramm's Cottage Museum Complex - Aug2011
Sloyd was a system of woodwork training to develop the manual skills of boys that originated in Sweden and was introduced into Victoria in 1900.
In the 1960s Sloyd ceased to be taught and the room was converted for use as another classroom.
The Sloyd Room was brought to this site in 1993 when the East Doncaster school closed and now contains displays relating to the craft of woodworking.
Atkins Cottage in grounds of Schramm's Cottage Museum complex before 1993 when Sloyd room was moved from Doncaster East School. Foreground, the headstone Alexander Laurie d 1886, aged 23 years. DP1520 same as DP1430
Sloyd Room being lowering by mobile crane over the north fence at Schramm's Cottage Museum Complex. The Sloyd Room came from the East Doncaster Primary School where it had been used for woodwork teaching. DP0569
Atkins Cottage cottage and Sloyd room. 2004
Adjacent to the Sloyd Room is the original bell from East Doncaster State School.
The Sloyd Room
In 1899, a new subject was being promoted for primary schools in Victoria. News of a new system of manual instruction, called Sloyd, had come from Sweden and England. The name was a derivation of the Swedish word for skilful, 'slojd'. The subject had originated in 1850 as training for artisans but developed as general training for boys.In 1898, an Australian, John Bryant, studied at the Sloyd Institute in Sweden. Bryant realised the educational value of the system and returned to Melbourne where he started a course at Queensberry Sweet State School, North Melbourne. The object of the course was not to turn out carpenters, but to train the intelligence, to cultivate carefulness, self-reliance, perseverance and accustom the eye to accurate observation.
The Sloyd room at the East Doncaster School 1922 (1992 09 DTHS Newsletter
In August 1901, Bryant held an exhibition of the Sloyd work produced at the school. It created great interest, the room being crowded with visitors all day and in the evening. John Bryant (Organising Inspector of Manual Training) first instructed twenty teachers in a five months course, that included the study of timbers and tools, as well as practice in drawing and bench work. These teachers were placed in Sloyd centres in Melbourne and suburbs also at Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. Classes of twenty boys at a time were instructed at these centres one half day each week.
The subject became popular with glowing reports from the schools such as from Mr. Cole of Corindhap who said; "When boys started work they had an idea that anything would do; a measurement was 2 inches and a bit over. They know that a pound is made up of a number of pence and shillings, so now they know that inches contain measurements of 32nds. The attendance has increased, boys come from long distances to attend sloyd."
In 1910, Mr. H. Madigan of Keilor School spoke to a conference on Sloyd work. "A bench for four pupils and the necessary working tools and timber were forwarded to my school. The bench and tool chest are placed at the southern end where the light is evenly distributed. The time occupied two and a half hours twice a week while the girls were employed at needlework. Drawings of models are taken from finished articles, and each boy is required to take the measurements, and mark them in the drawing. The eye is thus trained to greater accuracy of observation. The boy, having drawn from the actual model, has already taken a step towards the making, for he now has the design in his mind. Drawings are also made of the tools in use and leaves of the timber trees. As there is accommodation for four boys only, certain boys prepare their drawings while four boys work at the benches. It was a novelty the first week but the class soon became accustomed to seeing the boys at work."
In metropolitan schools, boys attended sloyd centres. Country schools were allowed to establish a sloyd room, if there was a trained teacher available, and if the school could provide space or obtain a separate room. The department matched any costs by the school committee on a pound for pound basis, also the department supplied a bench and tools.
In 1920, Robert Hobbs a progressive enthusiastic Head Teacher came to East Doncaster State School. Seeing the poor condition of the school building, he persuaded the Education Department to rebuild the school. This done, Hobbs then asked the Department for permission to build a Sloyd Room. The school committee proposed to utilise timber from the old shelter shed that had to be removed for the rebuilding. The application was approved, the Department paying twenty one pounds to match the School Committees funds, mostly from a gift by E. H. Wagstaff, whose orchard manager was on the school committee.
Robert Hobbs then trained at the Box Hill Sloyd centre, held in a small hall in Linsley Street, off Whitehorse Road, close to the State School.
In 1921, Doncaster East Sloyd room opened. The department provided two work benches, one ten foot and the other eight foot six and a sets of fifty eight different kinds of woodworking tools. These had come from the Warburton State School where the Sloyd room had been required as an extra class room.
Sloyd room within East Doncaster School 1992 (1992 09 DTHS Newsletter)
East Doncaster Primary School - 1936 or 1937 - School class photograph. The building in the background is the 'Sloyd' Room now moved to Schramm's Cottage complex, Victoria Street, Doncaster.
Standing on bench: 1-White, Russell; 2-Chadwick, Ron; 3-Chadwick, Bill; 4-Hacker, Warren; 5-Zerbe, Jack; 6-Neale, Harry; 7-Zerbe, Doug
Standing: 1-Jutson, Mr. (Head Teacher); 2-Burrows, Edie; 3-Maggs, Mary; 4-Bullen, Joyce; 5-Mahoney, June; 6-Ireland, June; 7-Maggs, Betty; 8-McKenzie, Val 9-Beavis, Evelyn ; 10-?
Seated on chairs: 1-? ; 2-? ; 3-? ; 4-? ; 5-? ; 6-? ; 7-?
Squatting: 1-? ; 2-? ; 3-? ; 4-? ; 5-? ; 6-?
Photographer: Dwyer, P. J., cnr Harding and Salisbury Streets, Coburg. DP1276 (and DP0318)
According to the covering note, this photo, with others, belonged to the late Mr A. Mahoney [Albert George Mahoney], who was a member of the 1973 Back to East Doncaster Primary School Committee.
In the first year, the supply of timber for the boys was restricted to kauri, pine and hardwood. Two years later, the school stocked blackwood, holly gum, brown cedar, kauri, maple, silky oak, yellow pine and Californian redwood pine. The number of boys taking Sloyd had grown and two more ten foot beaches were added.
East Doncaster had a Sloyd room but the shelter shed had been sacrificed to build it. Everything was alright on fine days, there were plenty of places to find a shady spot to eat lunch, or shelter from the wind, but rainy days were a problem. The Sloyd room was on sloping ground, one step up at the front but higher at the back, here the boys crawled underneath out of the rain to eat their lunch.
Nell Robinson (now our Nell Noonan) was horrified at the lack of facilities when she came to teach at East Doncaster. She soon persuaded the school committee to have a shelter shed built.
Sloyd remained a popular subject so, in 1929, the School Committee asked the Department for funds to enlarge the room. Unfortunately there was no money then for the depression of the 1930's had begun. In the summer of 1934, there were complaints about the heat in the Sloyd room. It was said that the room was too hot to teach in. An estimate of seven pounds was given to line the ceiling with plaster and provide louvre ventilators in each gable end.
Sloyd continued to be a popular subject till the 1960's, by then changes in education were taking place. Sloyd had been introduced as a subject for grade seven and eight, but with the increase of high schools, primary schools only went up to sixth grade. Also craft, including , classes for girls, was taking the place of Sloyd.
In the 1960's, East Doncaster School was being enlarged. The sloyd room was moved to the far side of the school ground, it was improved, another window added and had heating installed, the room being used as an extra school room. East Doncaster ceased to be a growing suburb with fewer school age children, also new schools had been built in the area. For some years, the old Sloyd room was unused and filled with unwanted furniture. The school committee were preparing to demolish the building when the Historical Society asked permission to move it to SchrammÃs Grounds. There it can be set up and equipped with the hand carpentry tools in the societies collection. Woodwork of the past can then be demonstrated to schoolchildren.
Many boys who went to East Doncaster School have fond memories of classes in the old Sloyd room, three of these were my own children and some, such as Beatty Beavis, are members of our historical society.
Source: Irvine Green writing in 1992 09 DTHS Newsletter
Sloyd Room Relocation Grant
The Historical Society is pleased and grateful to have received a grant from the Doncaster and Templestowe Council to help move the Sloyd Room from the East Doncaster School. This will enable us to carry out the work of moving the building. Plans have been made to move the building when the ground has dried out and will hold the heavy vechicles needed, possibly during the January school holidays. The Sloyd Room will be a great asset to the Schrammsà area for we have many wood working tools as well as timber objects actually made at Sloyd classes our collection of small models.Source: 1992 12 DTHS Newsletter
The Sloyd Room
The Sloyd Room from East Doncaster School Dropped into Schramm's Cottage Grounds on Sunday 16th May.Glyn Martin, who moved Atkins Cottage, moved the building. He called in a crane to overcome the problem of getting the building out of an impossible position, for the Sloyd Room was in a part of the school grounds two levels lower than the road with several obstructions in the way. The skilful crane driver manoeuvred the large crane down a narrow lane, picked up the building and slid the room between a basketball post and trees then placed it on to the next level. The crane then moved in front of the shops lifted up the Sloyd Room taking it right over some more trees and placed it on the low loader. At Schramm's, the crane driver again lifted up the room right up above some pine branches and carefully lowered it into the exact position alongside Atkins House.
The Sloyd Room now is ready to be restored and fitted out to become another feature for visitors to Schramm's to inspect.
In preparation for the Sloyd Room, the site needed to be cleared of some trees, stumps, roots and then levelled. A stump muncher came in to remove the tree stumps then one Saturday morning a group of members, Ron Leaney, John Boylett, Ken Smith, Irvine Green, Jack Ward, John Humphries and Laurie Petty spent a morning of hard work cleared away the mass of tree roots and small trees then levelled the rock-hard ground.
Source: Irvine Green writing in 1993 06 DTHS Newsletter
The Sloyd Room
In 1899, a new subject was being promoted for primary schools in Victoria. News of a new system of manual instruction, called Sloyd, had come from Sweden and England. The name was a derivation of the Swedish word for skillful - `sloyd'. The subject had originated in 1850 as training for artisans but developed as general training for boys.
In 1898, an Australian, John Bryant, studied at the Sloyd Institute in Sweden. Bryant realised the educational value of the system and returned to Melbourne where he started a course at Queensberry Street State School, North Melbourne.
The object of the course was not to turn out carpenters, but to train the intelligence, to cultivate carefulness, self reliance, perseverance and accustom the eye to accurate observation.
In August 1901 Bryant held an exhibition of the Sloyd work produced at the school. It created great interest, the room was crowded with visitors all day and in the evening.
John Bryant (Organising Inspector of Manual Training) first instructed twenty teachers in a five months course that included the study of timbers and tools, as well as practice in drawing and bench work. These teachers were placed in Sloyd centre in Melbourne and suburbs also at Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine. Classes of twenty boys at a time were instructed at these centres one half day each week.
The subject became popular with glowing reports from the schools such as from Mr. Cole of Corindhap who said: "When boys started work, they had an idea that anything would do; a measurement was 2 inches and a bit over. They know that a pound is made up of a number of pence and shillings, so now they know that inches contain measurements of 32nds. 'The attendance has increased,boys come from long distances to attend sloyd."
In 1910, Mr. H. Madigan of Keilor School spoke to a conference on Sloyd work. "A bench for four pupils and the necessary working tools and timber were forwarded to my school. The bench and tool chest are placed at the southern end where the light is evenly distributed. The time occupied two and a half hours twice a week while the girls were employed at needlework.
Drawings of models are taken from finished articles, and each boy is required to take the measurements, and mark them in the drawing. The eye is thus trained to greater accuracy of observanon. The boy, having drawn from the actual model, has already taken a step towards the making, for he now has the design in his mind. Drawings are also made of the tools in use and leaves of the thnber trees. As there is accommodation for four boys only, certain boys prepare their drawings while four boys work at the benches. It was a novelty the first week but the class soon became accustomed to seeing the boys at work."
In metropolitan schools, boys attended Sloyd centres. Country schools were allowed to establish a Sloyd room, if there was a trained teacher available, and if the school could provide space or obtain a separate room. The department matched any costs by the school committee on a pound for pound basis, also the department supplied a bench and tools.
In 1920, Robert Hobbs a progressive enthusiastic Head Teacher came to East Doncaster State School. Seeing the poor condition of the school building, he persuaded the Education Department to rebuid the school. This done, Hobbs then asked the Department for permission to build a Sloyd Room. The school committee proposed to utilise timber from the old shelter shed that had to be removed for the rebuilding. The application was approved, the Department paying twenty one pounds to match the School Committees funds, mostly from a gift by E. H. Wagstaff, whose orchard manager was on the school committee. Robert Hobbs then trained at the Box Hill Sloyd centre, held in a small hall in Linsley Street, off Whitehorse Road, close to the State School.
In 1921, Doncaster East Sloyd room opened. The department provided two work benches, one ten foot and the other eight foot six and a sets of fifty eight different kinds of woodworking tools. These had come from the Warburton
State School where the Sloyd room had been required as an extra class room.
The Department also sent the school a stock book that had to be kept up to date in August each year. The stock book had first been used at Gormandale where a Sloyd room had been opened in 1914. That was closed when extra accommodation was required, then in 1916, the book was sent to a new Sloyd room at Briagalong State School. Again that room was needed when extra children enrolled after the war.
In the first year, the supply of timber for the boys was restricted to kauri, pine and hardwood. Two years later, the school stocked blackwood, holly gum, brown cedar, kauri, maple, silky oak, yellow pine and Californian redwood pine. The number of boys taking Sloyd had grown and two more ten foot benches were added.
East Doncaster had a Sloyd room but the shelter shed had been sacrificed to build it. Everything was alright on fine days, there were plenty of places to find a shady spot to eat lunch, or shelter from the wind, but rainy days were a problem. The Sloyd room was on sloping ground, one step up at the front but higher at the back, here the boys crawled underneath out of the rain to eat their lunch. Nell Robinson (now our Nell Noonan) was horrified at the lack of facilities when she came to teach at East Doncaster. She soon persuaded the school committee to have a shelter shed built.
Sloyd remained a popular subject so in 1929 the School Committee asked the Department for funds to enlarge the room. Unfortunately, there was no money then for the depression of the 1930's had begun. In the summer of 1934, there were complaints about the heat in the Sloyd room. It was said that the room was too hot to teach in. An estimate of seven pounds was given to line the ceiling with plaster and provide louvre ventilators in each gable end.
Sloyd continued to be a popular subject till the 1960's, by then changes in education were taking place. Sloyd had been introduced as a subject for grade seven and eight, but with the increase of high schools, primary schools only went up to sixth grade. Also craft, including classes for girls, was taking
the place of Sloyd.
In the 1960's, East Doncaster School was being enlarged. The sloyd room was moved to the far side of the school ground, it was improved, another window added and had heating installed, the room being used as an extra school room.
East Doncaster ceased to be a growing suburb with fewer school age children, also new schools had been built in the area. For some years the old Sloyd room was unused and filled with unwanted furniture. The school committee were
preparing to demolish the building when the Historical Society asked permission to move it to Schramms Grounds. There it can be set up and equipped with the hand carpentry tools in the societies collection. Woodwork of the past can then be demonstrated to school children.
Many boys who went to East Doncaster School have fond memories of classes in the old Sloyd room, three of these were my own children and some, such as Beatty Beavis, were members of our historical society.
Source: Irvine Green writing in 1995 09 DTHS Newsletter
The Sloyd Room Opening
During May the "Sloyd Room", the historical society's latest feature, was opened. This event concluded two years of planning, effort and work. We heard that the East Doncaster School no longer required the old school room that had been built as a Sloyd Room in 1921.
After obtaining permissions from the school to move the building to Schramm's Cottage grounds we had to solve the difficult problem of moving it from an inaccessible position in the school grounds.
The site alongside Atkins Cottage was an obvious and satisfactory place for its new home but first Council, being the owners of the land, had to agree to the move. Then a building permit was required - always a problem with an historical building.
We were successful in obtaining a grant from the Council to cover the removal costs. Our society covered the high expense of repairing and restoring the building but "Arts Access" gave a grant for fittings, cabinets and displays.
Eventually the work was complete and Richard Peterson the council conservation architect declared the "Sloyd Room" open on the 28th May. Richard Peterson was an ideal choice to perform the ceremony as his main architectural interest is the history of school buildings.
After the formalities the guests enjoyed warm soup and toast, very welcome on a cold May day.
Source: 1995 09 DTHS Newsletter
Sloyd Room
In 1921 the East Doncaster School built a Sloyd Room to teach the boys skill through woodwork. The Department payed twenty one pounds to match the funds raised by the school. They utilised timber from the old shelter shed, built in 1900 and Hobbs, who had trained at the Box Hill Sloyd Centre taught the boys
The building, 16 feet wide and 22 feet six inches long, was unlined and was placed against the school, past the entrance porch. The department provided equipment from the Warburton School, where the Sloyd Room had ben closed when the space was needed for extra class rooms. There were over fifty wood working tools and two work benches, one eight feet long to accommodate two boys and the other ten feet long for four boys. Two years later more equipment and two more benches were added.
In the first year the supply of timber was restricted to kauri, pine and hardwood, two years later there was a stock of blackwood, holly gum, brown cedar, kauri, maple, silky oak, yellow pine and California redwood. Sloyd became a popular subject and in 1929 the school tried to obtain funds to enlarge the room but with the financial depression that year the department had no spare money. The unlined galvanised iron roof made the room too hot for classes in hot weather and in 1835 the ceiling was lined with fibrous plaster and ventilators were installed.
During the 1960s with the school population increasing from 200 to 500, extensive alterations were carried out and the Sloyd Room moved to the far side of the school grounds. The word Sloyd was no longer used, it was then a craft room still used for wood work Later the room was converted for use as an infant classroom with the walls being lined with masonite, carpet on the floor and gas heating installed.
In the 1980s the population of the school decreased. Eventually the old room was no longer needed and the school council planned to demolish the building. The Historical Society asked permission to move the room to the grounds of Schramm’s Cottage. The Sloyd Room has now been restored and is being set up with displays that will add to the attractions of Schramm’s Complex.
Source: Irvine Green writing in 1995 03 DTHS Newsletter
1994 03 DTHS Newsletter - Sloyd Room
The Sloyd Room
Some of our members have been asking about the origin of our Sloyd room, so it is timely that some information about it can be learnt and passed on to any visitors who are interested.
Sloyd, also known as Education Sloyd ·was a system of handcraft-based education started by Uno Cyanaeus in Finland in 1865. This was later adopted by and promoted in many countries worldwide. Sloyd (in Swedish) means sleight of hand, skilled or crafty.
It was thought that the benefits of handcrafts in general education built on and developed the character of the child, encouraging good moral behaviour, precision or industriousness. Children would gain dexterity and learn discipline through woodwork. It must be remembered that this system was developed long before the days of general secondary education, giving children a solid grounding in skills and character building before they entered the workforce.
Our Sloyd Room was built at the East Doncaster State Room in 1921. Mr Hobbs, who had been trained at the Box Hill Sloyd Centre, taught the boys and developed their skills through woodwork. The room cost forty-two pounds, half of which was raised by the school community and this was matched by the other half funded by the Education Department. The timber used in the building was from an old demolished shelter shed. Equipment for use in the room came from the school at Warburton where a similar Sloyd Room had been closed. The room at East Doncaster was equipped with more than 50 wood working tools and two woodwork benches, one eight feet long and the other ten feet. Later more benches were added and more equipment. Various timbers were used. Kauri, pine, hardwood, blackwood, gum, cedar maple, silky oak, yellow pine and California redwood.
As the years went by, the school population increased and it was proposed to enlarge the size of the room. In the Depression years, no money was available, so this was never done, but in 1935, ventilators were added and the ceiling was lined, as the unlined galvanised iron roof made the room too hot for the children to work in during the summer.
In the 1960's the Sloyd method of teaching was phased out and the room became a craft room having been moved to another part of the school ground. It later became an infant classroom, lined and carpeted. In the 1980's, the room was no longer required, and it was planned to demolish the building. Our society - on the advice of the Doncaster-Templestowe Heritage architect asked the school committee for permission to acquire the building and move it to the Schramm's Cottage precinct. The Sloyd room was relocated to our land in May 1993, being lowered over the side fence by a crane driver who skilfully lifted the room, over the pine trees and on to its previously prepared site.
Source: 2011-09 DTHS Newsletter
Once in position, plans were made to restore the room, organise modern display cabinets and obtain appropriate display materials and exhibits.
It was decided to remove the lining on one end of the Sloyd room to restore it to the unlined situation it had been in during the early days of its life. Some men, who had done woodwork at that period, gave us advice as to how the room was set up.
We obtained a workbench and woodworking tools from Millauna College, which was closing at that time. Also ''how to do" charts were donated by a local school.
In our collection was the Ted Daws collection of planes and woodworking tools from 1911. These were rehoused in the Sloyd room in the newly built cabinets along one wall.
The table and chairs fashioned from the Bunga pine which had been in Doncaster Road, near the original site of Schramm's Cottage, were also placed in the room.
In the sloping glass bench top showcases were displayed models made in this Sloyd Room by former pupils' stools, racks and other items. Other cases housed specimens of woodwork done more recently by the men's woodworking club, which uses the old Templestowe School building as its meeting and workroom.
In later years, a model of an English watermill done by Michael Tucker was added, and an authentic model of Finn's Hotel by Walter Haslam and restored by Ron Leaney was added to the collection.
A lovely collection of models of orchard implements, Petty Plough, spray pump and others, as well as a table, made with inlaid woods, setting out the street layout of Doncaster, were donated by the family of Alf Peter-Budge after his death.
A teacher prepared the blackboard with working diagrams of wood joins and technical details for the boys learning the fundamentals of the theory of cabinet making. We have Bill Ling to thank for the preparation and erection of hessian covered display boards, with tools and planes placed in position, so that visitors can learn something of the story of woodworking.
Next time you are in the Sloyd room take a while to look carefully at all these display items and you will appreciate the variety and depth of the exhibits, which are perhaps a unique record of Sloyd in Victoria.
Source: 2011-12 DTHS Newsletter
Misc Recollections
- In the 70's & 80's we referred to it as the 'hut'. It was used for remedial classes and ESL purposes. Mac Harris
- Grade 5 with Mr Rasmussen. Anita Easson
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