Waldau School
Waldau school was operating on the Dehnert St site since the early orchards were established. |
Statement of the Denominations of children attending the Lutheran school at Doncaster in 1861
At a meeting of the Trinity Lutheran Church Congregation at Waldau (Doncaster) held in April 1860, it was resolved to establish a German school at Waldau, and to ask Mr Max Schramm whether he would accept the position as teacher. On April 29th that year, Mr Schramm informed the congregation that he would accept the proposal to serve as teacher of the school. It was resolved to ask Pastor Matthias Goethe to examine Mr Schramm and if he was found to be proficient, to install him as teacher. The installation service was held on Ascension Day, May 17th, 1860. The school was opened on May 29th with 11 German children in attendance. Max Schramm was remunerated by fees paid by parents of the children. Instruction was originally in the German language and the school day began with a hymn, short devotion and prayer. In the early years, the curriculum was slanted more to a religious than a secular education. The school committee inspected the school every quarter.
After a few years, more non-Lutheran pupils were enrolled and by April 1861, 34 pupils were enrolled and the curriculum was modified to meet the requirements of a more practical education. Several subjects were now taught in the English language.
The names of the 34 students are contained in a letter in 1861 from Matthias Goethe to Mr R. Hale Budd, Secretary of the Denominational School Board, Melbourne along with a pupil roll statement prepared by Max Schramm showing the Denominations to which the several children attending the Lutheran School at Waldau – Doncaster colony.
Letter of April 11, 1861 from Matthias Goethe to Mr R. Hale Budd, Secretary of the Denominational School Board. DTHS image No. NF11P032-154 Schramm School Records 1861-2 Ref2-1
Melbourne. April 11th 1861To R. Hale Budd, esq, Secretary of the Denominational School Board. MelbourneSir, I have the honor to furnish you with the statement of the Denominations to which the several children attending the Lutheran school at Doncaster Colony belong. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Matthias Goethe
The pupil roll statement contained a list of 34 pupils consisting of 14 girls, 20 boys with ages between 4-14 years and with denominations being Lutheran 20, Church of England 5, Wesleyan 6, Presbyterian 1 and Baptist 2.
The roll showing the Denominations to which the several children attending the Lutheran School at Waldau. DTHS image No. NF11P032-153 Schramm School Records 1861 -1 Ref2-1
A roll showing the Denominations to which the several children attending the Lutheran School at Waldau – Doncaster colony.
No. Names Age Denomination
1 Essing Henry 12 Lutheran
2 Finger Christian 8 Lutheran
3 Finger Traugott 9 Lutheran
4 Meyer Franz 6 Lutheran
5 Porter John 13 Baptist
6 Porter William 10 Baptist
7 Seales James` 4 Wesleyan M
8 Seales Joseph 5 Wesleyan M
9 Simon Ernst 5 Lutheran
10 Stecher Gottlieb` 11 Lutheran
11 Thiele Edmund 7 Lutheran
12 Thiele Friedrich 5 Lutheran
13 Thiele Henry 4 Lutheran
14 Toogood George 12 Wesleyan M
15 Toogood Henry 14 Wesleyan M
16 Toogood Charles 10 Wesleyan M
17 Toogood Richard 6 Wesleyan M
18 Watt David 8 Presbyterian
19 Witten John 4 Church of England
20 Zander John 5 Lutheran
21 Essing Cecilie 13 Lutheran
22 Hardidge Mary 7 Church of England
23 Hardidge Emily 5 Church of England
24 Hardidge Sarah 4 Church of England
25 Lenkerstorf Auguste 5 Lutheran
26 Meyer Bertha 5 Lutheran
27 Schuhkraft Mary 5 Lutheran
28 Simon Henriette 11 Lutheran
29 Stecher Christine 8 Lutheran
30 Straube Emma 10 Lutheran
31 Thiele Adelaide 12 Lutheran
32 Thiele Mary 8 Lutheran
33 Uebergang Caroline 11 Lutheran
34 Witten Sarah 5 Church of England
Max Schramm (Signature of Teacher)Matthias Goethe
Matthias Goethe was a Lutheran pastor who came to Melbourne in 1852. The German Lutheran community in 1853 asked him to become their pastor and he founded congregations in Grovedale, Ballarat, Bendigo and Castlemaine, and also held regular services at Hawthorn, Doncaster and other places near Melbourne. He was pastor of the Lutheran Trinity Church for 14 years from 1853 to 1867.
His letter to Mr Budd may have been associated with the establishment by the Denominational Board of the number of pupils at all Denominational schools in preparation of the change to them becoming ‘Common Schools’ in 1862.
Mr R. Hale Budd was Richard Hale Budd and at the time of the letter was secretary of the Denominational Board. He had earlier become an inspector in 1854 under the Denominational Schools Board, being designated an inspector when it began examining and classifying teachers in 1856. He then became acting-secretary of the Denominational Board and was appointed secretary in March 1860.
A Denominational School was a primary level school established or controlled by a religious denomination, chiefly in the period 1848–1862 when overseen and partly funded by a government-appointed Denominational Schools Board that supported church parish schools.
Most but not all Denominations schools were to became Common Schools from 1862 when the Common Schools Act was passed. This would create the Board of Education, under which all schools were renamed ‘Common Schools’, and so it became unofficially known as the ‘Common School Board’. This new board abolished funding to parish schools unless they complied with the requirements of the Board of Education, but they could still remain part of their parish and be run as ‘religious’ schools. Most former Denominational Board schools complied and thus came under the jurisdiction of the new board.
The Board's plan was to close small schools and amalgamate these into entities that were more efficient and improve teaching standards in Victoria. Some small schools closed but others welcomed amalgamation, as they could be eligible for grants to improve facilities.
Max Schramm had opened his school in 1860 as a denominational school, which was supervised by the church congregation. In 1863, his Waldau Lutheran school became a Common School.
Sources:
- Letter of April 11, 1861 from Matthias Goethe to Mr R. Hale Budd, Secretary of the Denominational School Board. DTHS image No. NF11P032-154 Schramm School Records 1861 -2 Ref2-1
- The roll showing the Denominations to which the several children attending the Lutheran School at Waldau. Source: DTHS image No. NF11P032-153 Schramm School Records 1861 -1 Ref2-1
Waldau School
The new primary school in Dehnert Street has been given the old name "Waldau" that was originally given to this area by the German pioneers. The name was suggested by Mr. Les Blake, president of the R.H.S.V. who is an inspector of schools in the area.Source: 1971-05 DTHS Newsletter
Doncaster Gardens Primary School
Doncaster Gardens Primary School emerged in 1997, following the restructure of Waldau and Doncaster East primary schools.Source: http://www.dgps.vic.edu.au/page/3/School-Profile
When Waldau Primary School and Doncaster East Primary School were merged, the new Doncaster Gardens Primary School was established in 1997.
Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doncaster_East,_Victoria
Waldau Primary School Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/7203381527/
Construction on building 2 at Waldau did start 1975. We moved into the new building for grade 4 at the start of 1976. I didn't remember that George St. did not go straight through Victoria St. at that time. Grant Puglia Facebook
Construction on building 2 at Waldau did start 1975. We moved into the new building for grade 4 at the start of 1976. I didn't remember that George St. did not go straight through Victoria St. at that time. Grant Puglia Facebook
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