William Muirden brings a thorough broad education to Adelaide commercial studies with college from 1900
An early 20th Century class at Muirden College in King William Street, Adelaide.
Image courtesy muriden.sa.edu.au
William Muirden, founder of Muirden College, opened in 1900 and still operating in King William Street, Adelaide, brought the benefits of a broader education to commercial studies.
In 1892, Scottish-born Muirden took over the Adelaide Shorthand Institute, the city’s first business college (1887) from his brother Alexander.
Muirden and William Hogg later formed the Shorthand and Business Training Academy. From 1895, it began teaching country students via correspondence.
Muirden College opened in 1900 in two rooms at Ware Chambers in Grote Street, Adelaide, with 12 day and one evening students. Three months later, Muirden students dominated the top positions at public service exams.
The original prospectus of the college advertised classes and correspondence lessons in shorthand, typewriting and business routine but also “all subjects necessary to a thorough English education”. The college aimed to prepare students for examinations in the civil service, university preliminary, pharmacy and teaching.
Two years after opening, it had to move to larger premises at Currie Chambers in Currie Street and remained there for five years until a building was erected in Grote Street (now the Hilton Hotel).
By 1906 there were 250 students. In 1912, there was a sudden increase in students with the Remington College and its 120 students incorporated. The roll rose to average over 500 in each year from 1914 to 1919. The college remained at Grote Street for 10 years but moved to larger premises of the Savings Bank of South Australia buildings in Rundle Street East where it occupied three floors.
In 1914, William Muirden, as a strong advocate for commercial education to be treated as academic subject, was sent by the state government to inquire into commercial and technical education in Britain and Europe. From 1913-34, Muirden published his Commonwealth Series on grammar, spelling, commercial practice etc. It was used by students for public exams all over Australia.
He formed William Muirden Book Club and belonged to Wayville Literary Society.
By the 1920s, after World War I, a trend towards the women in the workforce emerged. Muirden was a leader in the equal education of men and women.
In 1929, the college moved to 368 King William Street, where it is today. These premises adapted to the college’s needs with, for example, a comptometer classroom, added in 1957.
In 1970s, the college became a non-profit organisation. A secretarial branch was opened on North Terrace, Adelaide in 1971. Art appreciation and Italian classes were introduced
The 1980s brought extensive renovations to the building. including science labs and an art room. A matriculation college was opened in Pulteney Street. By the 1990s, the college focus moved to concentrating on years 11 and 12 pre-university courses.