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North Adelaide Grammar School

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Coordinates: 34°54′33″S 138°35′34″E / 34.909141°S 138.592774°E / -34.909141; 138.592774
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North Adelaide Grammar School, later Whinham College was a private school operated in North Adelaide, South Australia by John Whinham (3 August 1803 – 13 March 1886) and his family.

History

John Whinham

The founder of the school was born at Sharperton, Northumberland, and when very young displayed a thirst for knowledge and an aptitude for mathematics. He was tutored by a Roman Catholic clergyman, and at age 19 while acting as an assistant teacher qualified for entry to the University of Dublin, but family illnesses kept him in England, and in 1823 he took to teaching, and opened a school in Ovingham, near Newcastle upon Tyne. He was very successful there, and he received offers from Newcastle to move there, but chose to remain in Ovingham, where he married and became the father of six daughters and two sons. He became quite well off financially, but lost most of his savings in the economic downturn of 1848–1849. The family emigrated to Australia on the Athenian, and arrived in Adelaide, by way of Melbourne, in 1852. He had intended to start afresh as a farmer, but must have had second thoughts as he accepted an appointment as mathematics master at St. Peter's College, which he left after a few months to open his own school in North Adelaide, first at the Salem chapel, then at Goode's store in Kermode Street,[1] finally at new premises at the corner of Ward and Jeffcott Streets, which later became Australian Lutheran College. It started small but rapidly grew, and for many years was one of the largest private boarding and day schools in Australia.[2]

There is a reference to him losing his fortune a second time, which has yet to be explained. His youngest daughter died in 1882 and he retired shortly after, handing over management of the school to David, his eldest son. The school was then renamed "Whinham College" in his honour. In October 1881, his old scholars presented him with an oil portrait of himself painted by Andrew MacCormac.

Less than two years later, David died as the result of an accident, and John was forced to resume management duties; he himself died less than two years later.

Robert Whinham

Son Robert and a sister were teaching at the School in 1863[3] and he was described as "second master" in 1864.

He made headlines when he pulled a prank on an old friend, which a third party objected to and informed the police. The incident became a court case and cause célèbre.[4]

In 1882 John Whinham, nearly 80 years old, formally retired from teaching and management of the school, handing over the management duties to his son Robert. His rule was cut short however, when he was thrown from his horse at North Adelaide when returning from the city on 24 October 1884. It is likely that the reins, which had been broken early that day, had been inexpertly repaired and broke again. The horse, David's favourite, was a skittish animal and without both reins was uncontrollable, and taking alarm at some small thing threw him sideways, breaking his spine when he hit the ground. He died that evening.[5]

David was well known as an elocutionist, probably encouraged by his mother, and was frequently called upon to perform public recitations.

George Newman

George Gough Newman, B.A. (ca.1862 – 30 May 1929) George was a student at Grote Street Model School[6] and North Adelaide Grammar School, matriculated in Adelaide, passed through the Teachers' College and was appointed assistant master at Hindmarsh school. He gained his B.A. from London University, then served as master for two years at St. Peter's College. He was appointed headmaster of Whinham College in 1894[7] under a board of management, and took over the lease of the school in 1895. The University School of North Adelaide was merged with Whinham College in 1896[8]

In mid-1898 Newman was charged with indecent assault against a 14-year-old student in late 1897. The case came before the Supreme Court; Newman was defended by J. H. Symon Q.C., who demonstrated that the boy was unable to recall dates of the alleged incidents, or even of the date the school broke up. The judge, Mr. Justice Bundey, directed the jury to acquit.[9] Around the same time he was declared bankrupt; he blamed impatience of creditors.[8] That was the last year the school operated. Newman was the author of a large number of educational booklets.[10]

Whinham family

  • John Whinham (3 August 1803 – 13 March 1886) was married to Mary, née Bedlington, (ca.1811 – 4 September 1891)
  • William Whinham (ca.1842 – 5 September 1925), teacher and pastoralist, founded the suburb of Ovingham, South Australia, and was member for Electoral district of Victoria 1883–1884. He is reported to have married late in life, and she died around 1913,[11] though details are elusive.
  • Robert Whinham (ca.1847 – 24 October 1884)
  • eldest daughter Jane Whinham ( – 21 January 1908) married J.W. Parsons (died 14 December 1900) of Nairne on 5 April 1877, later lived at Whinham Street, Fitzroy
  • second daughter Isabella Whinham (ca.1838 – 24 August 1931) married Walter B.T. Andrews (ca.1824 – 5 April 1899) on 8 July 1858. Andrews was killed in a railway crossing accident at Upper Sturt.
  • third daughter Mary Whinham ( – 19 October 1901) married John Harrison Packard (1847 – 11 August 1929) on 8 April 1874
  • fourth daughter Annie Whinham married T.W. Harris on 30 September 1875
  • youngest daughter Margaret Emily Whinham ( – 22 May 1882)

They lived at Ovingham House, Buxton Street, North Adelaide

Notable students

References

  1. ^ "Mr. Whinham's Old Scholars' Association Reunion". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 20 December 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  2. ^ "The Late Mr. John Whinham". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 15 March 1886. p. 7. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  3. ^ "Topics of the Day". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 19 June 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Mr. Whinham's Case". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 13 June 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Fatal Accident to Mr. Robert Whinham". The South Australian Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 13 October 1884. p. 7. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Noted Educationist". The News. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 30 May 1929. p. 18 Edition: Home. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. ^ "The Head Master of Whinham College". Adelaide Observer. SA: National Library of Australia. 28 April 1894. p. 16. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Insolvency Court". Adelaide Observer. SA: National Library of Australia. 3 September 1898. p. 21. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  9. ^ "Law and Criminal Courts". South Australian Register. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 13 August 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Mr. Newman's Educational Series". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 23 September 1902. p. 6. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Obituary". The Chronicle. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 12 September 1925. p. 32. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d Cumming, D. A. & Moxham, G. They Built South Australia published by the authors 1986, Adelaide, South Australia ISBN 0 9589111 0 X
  13. ^ a b "Personal". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 18 August 1914. p. 6. Retrieved 29 September 2015.


34°54′33″S 138°35′34″E / 34.909141°S 138.592774°E / -34.909141; 138.592774

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