La Trobe University Antecedents

The Bendigo School of Mines opened in 1873 and was founded by a committee of the Bendigo Mechanics Institute (1854 – 1904). The School originally offered classes focused solely on mining, but its curriculum expanded over time. In 1883 the school changed its name to the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries, and later incorporated two existing institutions, a natural history museum (1864 – 1873) in 1873 and the library of the Bendigo Mechanics Institute (1854 – 1904) in 1904.

By 1909 a Junior Technical school was established, and in 1920 an additional building was acquired to better facilitate a commonwealth program that provided vocational training to returned soldiers in fitting and turning, carpentry, and boot repair.

By the 1920s the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries offered classes in Chemistry, Metallurgy, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Natural Philosophy, Mathematics, and Natural Science, Fitting and Turning, Carpentry, Plumbing, Electric Wiring, Blacksmithing, fine arts drawing, painting, design, and modelling.

The Bendigo School of Mines and Industries also had a close relationship with the University of Melbourne whereby “diploma students [From the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries] receive considerable exemption from attendance and examinations on proceeding to a Degree course in Engineering, Science, and Agriculture at the University". 

In 1959 the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries ceased to exist and its functions were taken over by the Bendigo Technical College (1959 – 1967).

Bendigo Technical College (1959-1967)

The Bendigo Technical College was established in 1959 and absorbed the functions of the Bendigo School of Mines and Industries (1883 – 1959). The activities of the Bendigo Technical College are best described in its 1966-1967 Handbook:

“Today thirteen Diplomas are available in the fields of Art, Business Studies, Applied Science and Engineering. Plans are in hand to commence courses in Biochemistry, Irrigation Engineering and Liberal Studies and these will lead to Associate diplomas.

The trade courses at the College have for many years provided theoretical and practical training for many young men and women in this area. Now closely supervised by the Apprenticeship Commission, most of these courses operate on the day release basis and provide up to one day per week for each apprentice. Trades catered for are Blacksmithing, Boilermaking, Cabinetmaking, Carpentry and Joinery, Fitting and Machining, Motor Mechanics, Electric Trades, and Plumbing and Gasfitting. Certificate courses are available in several other trades.

Educational and recreational courses are available in many fields.

The rapid growth of the College demands new premises and it has been decided to transfer progressively the tertiary work of the College to an 80 acre site at Flora Hill, about 1 ½ miles from the centre of Bendigo. Trade and recreational classes will continue on the present site and additional building will take place to modernise facilities.” (Bendigo Technical College,1967, p.9)

A major milestone for the Bendigo Technical College (1959 – 1967) was its affiliation with the Victorian Institute of Colleges (1965 - 1980). This affiliation meant that the Bendigo Technical College (1959 – 1967) could offer degrees of equal status to those awarded by universities.

Bendigo Institute of Technology (1967 - 1970)

There is limited explanation for the name change from the Bendigo Technical College to the Bendigo Institute of Technology (BIT). The handbooks indicate that BIT offered similar courses to its predecessor. 

A significant change did occur in 1974 when the Victorian state government announced the merging of the Bendigo Institute of Technology with the State College of Victoria at Bendigo (1973 – 1976). By 1976 the merge was complete, combining the teacher education offered by the State College of Victoria at Bendigo with the variety of courses offered by the Bendigo Institute of Technology (1967 – 1975). The entity that emerged from this was the Bendigo College of Advanced Education (1976 – 1990).

The Bendigo College of Advanced Education (BCAE) was established in 1976, when the Bendigo Institute of Technology (1967-1975) and the State College of Victoria Bendigo (1973-1976) merged. It operated until 1990, when it was split into the La Trobe University College of Northern Victoria (1991-1994) and Bendigo College of TAFE (1983-1990). The BCAE sat within the Victorian Institute of Colleges (1965-1980), an organisation that oversaw non-University tertiary education in Victoria.

At its establishment in 1976 the BCAE (1976-1990) offered degrees and diplomas in a range of academic and vocational areas. Following the establishment of the Faculty of Health Sciences in 1987, Diploma and Bachelors qualifications in Nursing were offered. It is likely that this training was offered in partnership with the Northern District School of Nursing (1950-1989).

The Bendigo Teachers College (1926 – 1931 / 1945 – 1973) was the first State Teachers’ College in Australia to be established in a provincial centre. It focused on primary and infant teacher training for women. Due to the economic challenges of the Great Depression the college closed in 1931, but re-opened in 1945 in response to increased need for educators. The first male students attended the College in 1946, and the infant teachers certificate was introduced in 1960. In 1972, the College became a constituent College of Victoria, and was re-named State College of Victoria Bendigo,

The State College of Victoria Bendigo (1973 – 1976) was established when the Bendigo Teachers College became a constituent College of Victoria. This change meant more independence for the College, which had previously been under the control of the Education Department. The State College of Victoria Bendigo also broadened its offering to Secondary Education, requiring students to have a relevant University Degree. In 1976 the State Government of Victoria oversaw the merger of a number of educational institutions, including the State College of Victoria Bendigo with the Bendigo Institute of Technology, forming the Bendigo College of Advanced Education (1976 – 1990).

The Northern District School of Nursing (NDSN) opened in 1950, and was funded by the Hospital and Charities Commission (a Victorian government agency operating from 1948-1978). It was the first school of its kind in the country, and went on to set the standard for nursing education in Australia (McLeod, 2019). The NDSN existed during a time of great change in the nursing profession. From the 1970s, there were increasing debates around the transition from an apprentice-style training system in hospitals, to degrees in universities. This resulted in a 1978 Committee of Inquiry into Nurse Education and Training (Lowe, 2020; Sax, 1978). The inquiry recommended a transfer of nurse training to the tertiary sector—something that was officially announced by the government in 1984, and enacted the following year with the State Grants (Nurse Education Transfer Assistance) Bill (1985). 

Building on an established working relationship, in 1989 the NDSN was amalgamated into La Trobe University. 

The Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences (1972-1989), later known as the Lincoln School of Health Sciences, was established in 1972. It was formed under the Victorian Institute of Colleges Act (1965) as a body corporate, when three separate allied health schools (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Speech Science) amalgamated. 

From 1977, in partnership with the Victorian College of Nursing, the Lincoln Institute offered degrees in Nursing. In 1987, state legislation was passed incorporating the Lincoln Institute of Health Sciences into La Trobe University. Following this incorporation, it has also been known as the Lincoln School of Health Sciences.

La Trobe University College of Northern Victoria (LUCNV) was established in 1991 with the merger of the Bendigo College of Advanced Education (1976 - 1990) and La Trobe University. The same piece of legislation also merged the Wodonga Institute of Tertiary Education with La Trobe University (La Trobe University (Bendigo and Wodonga) ACT 1990 (Vic). The merger occurred as a result of a series of higher educational reforms sometimes referred to as the "Dawkins Revolution", which brought in HECS and required all Colleges or Institutes of Advanced Education to become or merge with Universities.