Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

Scotch College 1851

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

1. Scotch College 1851 Marker

Inscription. Scotch College began here on 6 October 1851 with Mr Robert Lawson as Principal.
By the end of 1851 the school had already outgrown this site and relocated to what is now 99 Spring Street.

(Picture Caption) This building was destroyed by fire in 1943.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 37° 48.528′ S, 144° 58.303′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It is on Spring Street 0.1 kilometers south of Little Lonsdale Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 263 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

Australasia,

the Pacific Ocean,

South Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Former Church of England Mission (a few steps from this marker); Ti Cum Ah Chung, 1903

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Sister Esther (within shouting distance of this marker); Bill Proudfoot (within shouting distance of this marker); Madame Brussels (within shouting distance of this marker); 17 Casselden Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Digging through Time (within shouting distance of this marker); Little Lon People and Professions (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

Also see . . . The History of Scotch College in Melbourne. Scotch College Website

On 6 March 1850, the Reverend James Forbes was authorised to write to the Free Church of Scotland (in Scotland) asking it to send out a teacher to start a secondary school. Forbes was the first settled Presbyterian Minister in Melbourne, and was deeply passionate about education. The school was to provide a broad higher education to boys, with the hope that some would become teachers to improve education in the colony, and that others would become Presbyterian Ministers.

On 6 October 1851, Forbes’ work came to fruition, although he did not live to see this achievement. The
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

2. Scotch College 1851 Footpath Marker
Melbourne Academy known by 1855 as The Scotch College (and later as Scotch College) was opened in Spring Street, Melbourne by its first Principal, Robert Lawson. His wife Isabella served as the only other teacher, and the couple accommodated all boarders in their own house.

(Submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

The three Scotch College 1851 Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

3. The three Scotch College 1851 Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on June 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.