Geelong Industrial School

The Geelong Industrial School was established in around 1865. The School was located on Ryrie Street, Geelong. In 1869, the school opened a second site in the old Geelong Gaol at Myers Street in order to reduce overcrowding at the Ryrie street site, however it was deemed unsuitable and closed around 1873. The Geelong Industrial School housed children including those who, for health reasons, were moved from Melbourne’s industrial schools.

The first Geelong Industrial School was situated in Ryrie Street.

The atmosphere in Geelong was thought to be healthier than Melbourne’s, meaning that frail children in the city’s industrial schools were often transferred to Geelong. This led to problems with overcrowding at Ryrie Street in the late 1860s.

In 1868, plans were afoot for a second industrial school in Geelong. In November 1869, it was established in the former Gaol in Myers Street. The school operated at both the Ryrie Street and Myers Street sites until around 1873, when the Myers Street site was closed due to the old gaol buildings being deemed unsuitable for children.

In 1872 there were a total of 442 girls at the Geelong Industrial School, 259 at the Ryrie Street site and 183 at the Myers Street site. In 1879 there were 81 girls at the Industrial School in Geelong, including some who were transferred from the industrial school at Royal Park in July 1879.