Sloyd Room

Sloyd Room

In this issue we feature “The Sloyd Room” which has a long and interesting history and is another of the buildings which started life at another location, the Doncaster East Primary School on the corner of Blackburn Road and George Street. 

Built in 1921 we understand it started life as a shelter shed and with the introduction of Sloyd into the school curriculum; it was converted into a classroom to accom- modate the program. Sloyd was a system of woodwork training, to develop manual skills of boys, that originated in Sweden and was introduced into Victoria in 1900. By the 1960’s Sloyd ceased to be taught and the room was then used as an additional classroom. Doncaster East Primary School was closed in 1997. Prior to that time the building was temporarily relocated and in 1993 was, along with the school bell, relocated to Schramm’s Cottage complex. The accompanying photo- graphs show the building at the complex and the lifting of the building over the fence line during the relocation. The Society’s large display of woodworking tools and models of Finns Hotel, an old mill and others provide an interesting exhibit for our visitors.

Source: 2022-03 DTHS Newsletter

Schramm's Cottage - School Room

Schramm Cottage - Kitchen

Schramm Cottage - Living Room

Schramm Cottage - Bedroom

Schramm Cottage - Max Schramm's Study

Schramm Cottage - Dining Room

Atkins Cottage, Newmans Road

Atkins Orchard Cottage

Members will have enjoyed visiting this attraction which visitors find very interesting with its large variety of items from our collections. 

Ben Atkins built the house during the 1860’s at 72 Newmans Road, Templestowe using second-hand materials. The floors and weatherboards are of teak that had been used as dunnage on a vessel on the India run. The walls are lined on the inside with wide Oregon boards used to make fruit cases, covered with newspapers dated 1878 and then overlaid with wallpaper. Originally the home consisted of three rooms and to cater for their expanding family another three rooms and the iron roof were added to the rear of the building in the 1880’s. After Ben’s death in 1928 Frank Aumann purchased the property which remained in the family until it was saved by the City of Manningham and Templestowe and the three original rooms moved to Currawong Bush Park in Reynolds Road. In 1988 it was moved to the present site at Schramm’s Cottage Complex. Atkins Orchard Cottage was officially opened by the mayor of Doncaster and Templestowe, Cr John Bridge on 23rd February 1991. 

Source: 2021-12 DTHS Newsletter

Finger's Barn