Built Environment
Our Built Structures And Social Structures
One of the simplest ways to determine the social structures of our environment is by looking at the living spaces and meeting places. Everything from lavish to simple, intimate to social, rural and urban environments to industrial heritage, we explore them all here. Below are some of the structures that we look at;
Collingwood Technical School
This used to be the site of the Collingwood Technical School, and for more than 140 years, it has been part of the community, serving a significant purpose. It has been many things; A civic hub that housed the Collingwood Artisans’ School of Design in 1871, Council Chambers in 1860, and courthouse in 1853. It became the Collingwood Technical School in 1912 with Matthew Richmond being its first principle. Collingwood was an industrial and poor suburb and putting this school in that location gave the young boy the opportunity to acquire employment skills. For a significant part of the 20th century, it supported the local community in several ways. This included training schemes for ex-servicemen suffering from PTSD after World War 1, organising extra cases during the great depression, developing of electroplating and chrome for machine parts used by the Australian Army and Air Force in world war ii, etc. It has since evolved with the expansion, and there are now new buildings and school departments in the area. The school closed in 1987 after amalgamating with Preston TAFE campus and overtime; the place has taken up a new identity as the Collingwood Arts Precinct.
Como House & the Armytage Family
For about 95 years, the Como House in South Yarra belonged to the Armytage family, and the women of the family managed the property for above 80 years. Charles Henry Armytage bought the house in 1964, and he lived there with Caroline, his wife and ten children. The home was sold to the National Trust of Victoria by the last surviving children Leila and Constance in 1959, and the Trust bought the house with all its contents intact. Visiting the house is getting a clue into how the Armytage lived. You will find an extensive collection that includes letters, photographs, journals, diaries, etc. the mansion also has one of the finest gardens in Melbourne and is blessed with high-quality antique furniture. Visiting will give you an insight into the lives of one of the richest pioneer families in Australia.
Early Photographs
This is a collection of photographs taken by Richard Daintree and Antoine Fauchery, and it gives you a view of the Melbourne streets and Victorian landscapes back in the 1850s. It is part of the Sun Pictures of Victoria, the first photo albums of Australia scenes to be offered for sale. The photographers used the latest photography techniques of the time to capture images that offer rare beauty and quality, showcasing the beautiful landscape of the state and the city.