North Adelaide Grammar School

The founder of the school was born at Sharperton, Northumberland, and when very young displayed a thirst for knowledge and an aptitude for mathematics. He was tutored by a Roman Catholic clergyman, and at age 19 while acting as an assistant teacher qualified for entry to the University of Dublin, but family illnesses kept him in England, and in 1823 he took to teaching, and opened a school in Ovingham, near Newcastle upon Tyne. He was very successful there, and he received offers from Newcastle to move there, but chose to remain in Ovingham, where he married and became the father of six daughters and two sons. He became quite well off financially, but lost most of his savings in the economic downturn of 1848–1849. The family emigrated to Australia on the Athenian, and arrived in Adelaide, by way of Melbourne, in 1852. He had intended to start afresh as a farmer, but must have had second thoughts as he accepted an appointment as mathematics master at St. Peter's College, which he left after a few months to open his own school in North Adelaide, first at the Salem chapel, then at Goode's store in Kermode Street,[1] finally at new premises at the corner of Ward and Jeffcott Streets, which later became Australian Lutheran College. It started small but rapidly grew, and for many years was one of the largest private boarding and day schools in Australia.[2]

There is a reference to him losing his fortune a second time, which has yet to be explained. His youngest daughter died in 1882 and he retired shortly after, handing over management of the school to David, his eldest son. The school was then renamed "Whinham College" in his honour. In October 1881, his old scholars presented him with an oil portrait of himself painted by Andrew MacCormac.

Less than two years later, David died as the result of an accident, and John was forced to resume management duties; he himself died less than two years later.

Son Robert and a sister were teaching at the School in 1863[3] and he was described as "second master" in 1864.

He made headlines when he pulled a prank on an old friend, which a third party objected to and informed the police. The incident became a court case and cause célèbre.[4]

In 1882 John Whinham, nearly 80 years old, formally retired from teaching and handed over management of the school to his son Robert. His rule was cut short however, when he was thrown from his horse at North Adelaide when returning from the city on 24 October 1884, and died that evening. It is likely that the reins, which had been broken early that day, had been inexpertly repaired and broke again. The horse, Robert's favourite, was a skittish animal and without both reins was uncontrollable, and taking alarm at some small thing threw him sideways, breaking his spine when he hit the ground.[5]

The school entered a period of decline, which was arrested in 1889 with the appointment of a new board and a new Warden, Arthur Frederick Hastings (died 1927).[6]

George Gough Newman, B.A. (c. 1862 – 30 May 1929) George was a student at Grote Street Model School[7] and North Adelaide Grammar School, matriculated in Adelaide, passed through the Teachers' College and was appointed assistant master at Hindmarsh school. He gained his B.A. from London University, then served as master for two years at St. Peter's College. He was appointed headmaster of Whinham College in 1894[8] under a board of management, and took over the lease of the school in 1895. The University School of North Adelaide was merged with Whinham College in 1896[9]

In mid-1898 Newman was charged with indecent assault against a 14-year-old student in late 1897. The case came before the Supreme Court; Newman was defended by J. H. Symon Q.C., who demonstrated that the boy was unable to recall dates of the alleged incidents, or even of the date the school broke up. The judge, Mr. Justice Bundey, directed the jury to acquit.[10] Around the same time he was declared bankrupt; he blamed impatience of creditors.[9] That was the last year the school operated. Newman was the author of a large number of educational booklets.[11]