Holloway at 75

“An extensive Library is provided exclusively for the use of Junior Day boys.” (Sandringham Technical School, 1955)

For a school that only opened in 1949, to note in 1955 that there was an extensive library was obviously regarded as a selling point in the school prospectus.  Yet until the current Holloway campus library was constructed in 1975 as a separate building, we have no idea where the library was in the older original buildings.  However, there was evidently a library of some sort, and in the early Sandringham Technical School yearbooks of 1966 – 1968, two or three librarians are listed on staff.

One initiative of the early library was student involvement.  Students R. Fisken, C. Smart and G. Williams of Form 1B were members of the school library club.  In the 1966 yearbook they wrote of their duties as library monitors where they helped the librarians and kept the space looking “bright and cheerful”. They were also excited about going on excursions to the Sandringham Municipal Library, a special Book Week display in St. Kilda, and the Museum and Public Library on Swanston Street.  

It was not a few years later in 1969 when Federal Minister for Education and Science, Malcolm Fraser announced extensive funding for the building of school libraries all over Australia.  The initial funding was $27 million but by 1977 this funding had grown to over $400 million as the Commonwealth and State governments had contributed more funds.  By 1977 it was reported that 65% of secondary schools serving 85% of school students had substantial libraries.  Out of these schools, Sandringham Technical School was one of the beneficiaries of a new ‘Commonwealth Government Resource Centre’ – otherwise identified as a school library.

Constructed in 1975 at a cost of $120,000, the new library building gave the students of Sandringham Tech a dedicated space in which to work, research, and access books and other materials.  And the location of the library adjacent to the recently constructed school hall, was in a central part of the school.  Admittedly, like most schemes of this type, the library was built to a generic design and similarly designed school libraries can be found in secondary schools all over Victoria, with the building material being mainly brick. Inside the building, there is still evidence of past uses.  For example, typing classes where students could listen to different audio messages and type them as they heard them.

Today, the Holloway Library still occupies a central part of the school and is well-used for study, recreation, a makerspace, and for students to work on projects – and the space can get very busy during times when the weather is not agreeable.  The Holloway Campus turns seventy-five this year, but in another significant birthday, the Holloway Library turns fifty in 2025!

If the school community has any other stories or photos to contribute or donate (especially Sandringham Technical School yearbooks), please do not hesitate to get in contact with Jeremy de Korte (Teacher-Librarian/School Archives).