Adelaide Educational Institution

The school closed when he retired in 1880.

In 1852 Young opened a school with two, then three pupils (Hubert Giles, Caleb Peacock and John Partridge) in the "Peacock Chapel" lent by Mr Peacock in the rear of the (Congregational) Ebenezer Chapel in Ebenezer Place, off the east end of Rundle Street. In September 1852 they were joined by John Waterman, Richard Mahoney, T. L. Cottrell, and G. T. Cottrell. The number grew to seventeen at years end. and he was advertising for evening classes in Geometry and Arithmetic, apply between 6 and 7pm at Stephens Place, off the west end of Rundle Street where the Young family had a home, and to which street the school moved, perhaps as early as 1854, when the current tenant, J. M. Solomon, left for England on the steamer Australian. Fees for day students were 10 guineas (£10/10/-) per annum, (payable quarterly in advance). Facilities were available for boarding. His residence was in the same building on Stephens Place. By December 1855 the school had 107 students, perhaps close to 200 in 1857, 130 in 1862, 133 in 1868. Young's lease expired around 1856–1857. Next venue was the Congregational chapel in Freeman Street (now that section of Gawler Place between Pirie and Flinders Streets). In 1872 he had new premises built at Parkside on what became Young Street, named after the headmaster. E. S. Hughes recalled, in a letter to The Advertiser, a tableau of life during his time at the institution.

(Taken from Geoffrey H. Manning's A Colonial Experience)

John Lorenzo Young (1826–1881) was a Londoner, the son of John Tonkin Young, a builder from Veryan, Cornwall. He received a non-sectarian education in Europe and England, with emphasis on mathematics and the newly developed sciences of geology, physics and chemistry. He worked in Cornwall on railway and mining construction then left for Adelaide in 1850. on the ship "Panama", arriving on 31 October 1850. He joined the rush to the Victorian goldfields but soon returned. In 1851 he was appointed second master at the newly opened South Australian High School, under Headmaster Charles Gregory Feinaigle (1817? – 10 March 1880), but the venture failed by the end of the year. The following year Young was persuaded by a group of Congregationalists to open his own school at the rear of the old chapel in Ebenezer Street off Rundle Street East, and soon moved to larger premises in Stephens Place. His brother, Oliver Young, held classes for some time, and acted as headmaster in 1860 while J. L. Young was away on recuperation leave. In 1861 he built the large two-storey "Young House" in Parkside, which was used both as his private residence and as a student boarding house. He then commissioned architects Wright and Hamilton to design and oversee building of a schoolhouse next door. (Edmund Wright had designed many prominent Adelaide buildings including the Town Hall). In 1871 he was able to relinquish the Freeman Street premises. John retired in 1880 and closed the school, with the intention of joining his wife and large family who were visiting brother Oliver and his father in Veryan, in Cornwall. On his retirement, a testimonial was held 17 December 1880 by his old scholars, and he was presented with a purse of sovereigns. His 16-room residence, with schoolhouse and various other houses on Young Street, after several auction attempts in February 1881, was eventually purchased by Alfred Allen Simpson (who coincidentally had also purchased the Gawler Place school property). The two Parkside buildings, at 61-71 Young Street, were sold by Alfred A., Fred N. and Violet Laura Simpson to Mr. C. O. A. Lapidge in 1922. "Young House" has since been demolished but the heritage-listed schoolhouse still stands. He embarked on the steamer John Elder in 1881 to visit England (where his father was still living), his family having preceded him, but died on 26 July 1881 while crossing the Red Sea. He was buried at sea. Martha returned to Adelaide, at first living in Kent Town then settled in Glenelg. She died 6 April 1887 aged 57. Fred W. Sims, formerly Deputy Registrar of Companies in the Supreme Court, wrote in The Advertiser: I could tell you quite a lot about John L. Young's school— 'dear old Johnny', as we used to call him... Mr. Young possessed, among his other fine qualities, the saving grace of humor. It is recorded that his first two pupils were Caleb Peacock and John Partridge. He remarked at the time that, whether he met with success or not as a schoolmaster, he would anyway die "game". Young's work in South Australia is commemorated by scholarships at the University of Adelaide for research in political economy.

In its first stage of the school's history, Junior (or Third) Class consisted of boys from 7 to 10 years, Science being a chief subject with (although a non-sectarian school) a little religious insight. A small but significant number of students were Jews. No homework was set. In the Second Class, homework was encouraged and after five hours of schoolwork the more industrious students would voluntarily turn in up to four long essays a week. In Senior or First Class, subjects covered included political economy, history.

Other academics at the Institution included: • Thomas Boutflower Bennett (1808 – 14 September 1894), nicknamed "Tiger", helped run the school, taught English and bookkeeping, later at St Peter's College. His headstone in Moonta cemetery mentions SPC but not AEI. His son J. W. O. Bennett was killed on the Goyder expedition of 1869. • Thomas Caterer (around 1854) went on to found the notable Norwood Grammar School • John Howard Clark taught occasionally • Rev. F. W. Cox taught drawing 1864, 1866 • Edward Dewhirst was classics master for a time. • C. J. Fox taught Latin from 1868 to 1871 at least. He would later, as the editor and proprietor of The Irish Harp and Farmers' Herald newspaper, become famous after the sacking and excommunication Sister Mary MacKillop by Bishop Sheil. He was ousted from the Catholic Association, of which he was president. for the candid way in which he reported the affair. Frank Fox was a son. • Henry Greffrath taught French and German from beginning 1852 to mid-1863. He also conducted classes at St Peter's College, and left for Jena, Germany in 1864. • Wilton Hack succeeded Charles Hill as drawing teacher 1868 W. Hack also taught drawing at Norwood Grammar and St Peter's College. • A teacher named Harrison, called "Cocky" by students (as was Oliver Young); described as young and pimply, was sacked for drunkenness at a June prizegiving, possibly 1856. A later commentator found him memorable. • Charles Hill taught drawing • Philip T. Hill taught writing and arithmetic NOT drawing (perhaps Philip Trelore Hill, married Hannah Fisk in 1869, died 1919), he later taught at Langhorne Creek and Goolwa, and highly regarded. • G. R. Irwine (d. 7 October 1871) taught Latin, Greek and English. • Dr Carl Heinrich Loessel (Lössel) taught French, German in 1863, 1864 • Adolph Emile Marval taught French 1866, also at St Peters College. Mme. Caroline Emma Marval opened a Ladies' College. • F. H. Needham RN taught mathematics, Latin 1861 • George "Pat" Needham BA (1805 – 19 March 1894) (no relation though both taught Latin –) • Hamilton Charles Palmer (died 1880) Maths and Classics master 1860 while Oliver Young in charge. Boys made fun of him. • J. R. P. Parsons Classics master, later principal, Adelaide High School • Rev. Canon Poole (Frederic Slaney Poole) taught advanced Latin 1870 • Hermann von Schleinitz taught French, German 1865 to 1873 (also at St Peter's College, Norwood Grammar). • James Shakespeare later a professional organist • Rev. Thomas Smellie (pronounced "smiley") Presbyterian minister arrived Adelaide 1861, registered to grant marriage licences 1862, taught Latin at AEI from 1863 to 1866. Founded Gawler Academy 1868 licence to marry rescinded 1870; returned to Britain 1872. • Oliver Young (J. L. Young's brother) taught drawing, ran the school in 1860 during his brother's absence. Oliver, whom the students called "Cocky", though not to his face, suffered from a deformed back. He returned to Cornwall in 1866, and never married.

• 1852 School opens in Ebenezer Place with two students Caleb Peacock and John Partridge, soon joined by G. T. and T. L. Cottrell, John Waterman and Richard Mahoney. • 1853 or 1854 Moved to "Stephens Place", previously home to J. M. Solomon and family on the southwest corner of Town Acre 19. • 1856 or 1857 Moved to schoolroom at rear of Freeman Street Congregational chapel • 1860 J. L. Young in poor health, on leave in England. Oliver Young acting head for the year. • 1861 J. L. Young returns, buys 2 acres in Parkside. T. B. Bennett joins staff. • 1865 Old Scholars' Association dinner • 1866 Oliver Young returns to England • Old Scholars' Association dinner • 1867 Congregational Church moves to Stow Hall, AEI takes over Freeman Street chapel. • First Old Scholars' dinner • Old Scholars' AGM • 1868 Pupil numbers down to 133 • 1869 The Star first (and last?) issue • Old Scholars' dinner • 1870 Old Scholars dinner • Old Scholars' annual meeting scheduled for 24 June postponed to following week due to poor attendance • 1871 All teaching now at Young Street, Parkside. T. B. Bennett resigns. • Old Scholars' dinner poor attendance • 1872 Old Scholars' dinner 12 attendees • 1880 Presentation to Thomas Bennett >30 attendees • 1880 School closes • 1881 J. L. Young dies • 1887 Mrs Young dies • 1896 Funeral of Caleb Peacock • 1897 Stephens Place buildings demolished (a beaut reminiscence)

A group of old scholars felt it appropriate to establish a memorial for J. L. Young, and from 1912 held a series of annual reunion dinners to raise funds for the memorial. • 1912 Reunion It was at this reunion that Peter Wood moved that a J. L. Young scholarship be established. • 1913 Second reunion • 1914 Third reunion • 1915 Fourth reunion • 1916 Fifth reunion • 1917 Sixth reunion • 1918 Seventh reunion • Function for Eden Herschel Babbage 21 May 1918 • 1919 Eighth reunion • 1920 Ninth reunion • 1921 Tenth reunion • 1925 reunion

The school fielded a soccer team, two cricket teams and was a proponent of the Old Adelaide Football Club rules in 1865. A game of football was played on the school grounds, Parkside, against North Adelaide Grammar on 17 May 1873. The score of nil-all suggests the game was soccer. The first school Sports Day was held in November 1874. Prizes included silver pencil cases and gold shirt studs.

This list is not exhaustive. Many schools changed location, identity and management. And there were many women of culture and attainment, particularly widows (such as Caroline Carleton), who subsisted on their earnings as tutors. • Pastor Jacob Abbott, wife, daughter and son Joseph kept a school on Gilbert Street, opposite Draper Memorial Church. • Adelaide Collegiate School in North Adelaide, run by Rev. Thomas Field. Incorporated into Queen's School 1892. • Adelaide Model School (Alexander Clark) not strictly private school, run by Council of Education • Albert House Academy – see Haire's Academy • Alix House Academy, 100 South Terrace run by Eliza Hill (died October 1918), wife of Charles Hill, artist (died September 1915) • Mrs. Bell's school • Billiatt's Grammar School at St Leonards, Glenelg • Bowden Day Schools (Methodist?) (Mr & Mrs Lawton) • Brougham School, Gilles Street c. 1869 (Thomas Stevens Burgan, died 3 July 1858, succeeded by son Thomas Burgan, also at Fellenberg Commercial School) • School run by W. A. Cawthorne on what was later Page Street, Adelaide, became Victoria Square Academy. • Christ Church School run by James Bath, later Secretary to the Central Board of Education • Church of England Collegiate School see St Peter's Collegiate School • Classical Academy run by T. Q. Stow • Classical and Commercial School for Young Gentlemen run J. McGowan, Grenfell-street, near Gawler-place • Classical and English School run by the Rev. Ralph Drummond on Angas Street • Classical, Mathematical and Commercial Academy, North Adelaide. Rev. J. B. Titherington and E. W. Wickes 1847– • Collegiate and Commercial Institute, Victoria Square 1860 see Haire's academy • Commercial School, Port Adelaide (Henry Nootnagel) later language master St Peter's College, later Prince Alfred College. • Commercial School run by Mr. Hutchins in Hindley Street • Deutsche Schule, Freeman St (von Schleinitz, then A. Hansen) 1851–52 then Flinders St to 1857; Wakefield Street, run by Theodor Niehuus and Adolph Leschen. • Mr Dollison's school, Port Adelaide. • Fellenberg Commercial School, Pulteney Street 1859–1861; Hindmarsh Square 1861–1866. Run by John Martin who moved to Melbourne, succeeded by James Morecott Holder (– 1 November 1887) 1865–1866. • Gawler Place Academy for Young Ladies (Mrs H. Thornley) 1853 (Mrs C. Thornley) 1853–1856 near Grenfell Street, later Victoria Square/Flinders Street • Gawler Place Academy? (Mr J. Thornley) 1853 • Glenelg Educational Institution (J(ames) Mordey Mitchell) • Glenelg Grammar (1868) Frederick Isaac Caterer (c. 1840 – c. 24 August 1892) • Gouger Street Academy, James Hosking (c. 1822–1888) • Grote Street Model School (coeducational – many female students prominent in Adelaide University examinations 1878) • Haire's Academy, Albert House, Victoria Square then Collegiate Institute, Whitmore House, between Gilbert Street and South Terrace. (Francis Haire, died insolvent 1864) • Hill House School (E. W. Wickes, later G. W. Moore) • School run by Miss Hillier (later Mrs Taylor) North Terrace. • Mrs. Hillier's school, Brighton (Mr. John Hillier was on Register staff) • Mr Howard's Academy • Infant School, run by Mrs. Gawler in Morphett Street • James Jolly (died 3 November 1881)'s school in Waymouth Street (he later ran the Board of Education school at Encounter Bay then Port Elliot) • Mr King's Academy, Port Adelaide • St Leonards Grammar, Glenelg (W. K. Smart) • Mr Leslie's School • Mr McLaughlin's Public School, Port Adelaide • Maesbury House School, Kensington, conducted by Septimus Webster c. 1857 • Mr. Martin's School, Pirie Street. 1852–1857, run by John Martin (c. 1814 – 9 July 1876), see also Fellenberg School above. • Martin's Grammar School, Port Adelaide, conducted by Allen Martin (12 August 1844 – 13 July 1924) 1870–1876 then as a State school 1877–1900. • Mr. Martin's school in two-storey house near the corner of Gilbert and King William streets. • Miss Martin's School. Founded by Annie Montgomerie Martin. Second headmistress was Caroline Clark • North Adelaide Classical and Commercial Academy (1847–) John Berjew • North Adelaide Educational Institution (aka Nesbit & Drews') (1869–) http: nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41394776 • North Adelaide Grammar (John Whinham) (1804?-13 March 1886) and son Robert (died 24 October 1884) later called Whinham College. • North Adelaide Seminar (1847–) • Norwood Grammar School (Thomas Caterer) 1861 became South Australian Commercial College 1881 • Port Adelaide Grammar (A. Martin) • Mr Potter's School • Prince Alfred College (J. A. Hartley) • Princes Street School (founded by James Cater, taken over by Department the following year with Cater as Head) • Pulteney Street Academy (R. C. Mitton) • Pulteney Street School (1848) (W. Moore) became Pulteney Grammar School • Pulteney Street Central Schools (coeducational) 1847 (same as above?) • Queen's School, later Queen's College, 149 Barton Tce, North Adelaide (1892–1949) was founded by J. H. Lindon and E. L. Heinemann, both ex-St Peter's College, taking over the bulk of the students of Rev. Thomas Field's Adelaide Collegiate School. • Queenstown Commercial School • Miss Roland's school on Tavistock Street • Rundle Street Grammar (R. C. Mitton and W. J. Anderson) in Stephens Place from 1866 to 1872 • St Peter's Collegiate School (previously Church of England Collegiate School) • Semaphore Collegiate School • Mr Shepherdson's school in the Parklands, later kept by Mr Oldham for the South Australian School Society of London • Stepney College • Miss Tilney's school, Grote Street, later Franklin Street at Captain Finnis's house. • Tranmere School, run by David Wylie, brother-in-law of William Scott MHR • Union College (religious training) • Victoria Square Academy – W. A. Cawthorne's school on west side of the Square. • Way College – a Bible Christian college on Park Terrace, North Unley, named for Rev. James Way; W. G. Torr principal • Wesleyan Day School, run by Mr. La Vence, in Franklin Street Wesleyan Chapel. • Whinham College – see North Adelaide College • Wickes and Titherington opened a school at Jeffcott Street 1847 • Mrs. Woodcocks Christ Church school room • Young Ladies' School, run by Mrs. McGowan on Grenfell Street • Young Ladies' Seminary, run by Mrs. Yates at Tavistock Buildings on Rundle Street • Young Ladies' Seminary, run by Miss Williams on North Terrace • Young Ladies' Seminary, run by Mrs. Quick on Stephens Place • Young Ladies' Seminary, by Mrs. Chatfield on Cragie Place (off Gouger Street near Victoria Square)