This Butterfield family must have had something of the true ring in its organization, for after the transformation of Port Phillip into an independent colony, a brother of the teacher came to the surface in what might be termed the middle age of Victorian journalism. He was Mr. Joseph Butterfield, and after seeing some colonial service in New Zealand, arrived in Melbourne, where he started in the business of dairy farming (curious analogy in name and calling). His field of operation was a portion of that flourishing country over the Yarra, now overlooked by the Doncaster Tower. It was then known as "Elgar's Special Survey" from a Mr. Henry Elgar, who in 1840, by virtue of the Crown Lands Act, then in operation, selected 5120 acres of the District of broad Boroondara, as it was called, for just as many sovereigns. The region unpeopled and unutilized was in all respects a wilderness, though a fertile and blooming one. Butterfield and butter-raising did not assimilate so profitably as expected, and he betook himself to newspaper work, but did not restrict his abilities to one department of literature. He is best remembered in Victoria through having, in 1854, satisfied a pressing want in the compilation of a Melbourne Commercial Directory, a work which, considering the time when it was prepared and the numerous difficulties to be surmounted, evidences an amount of care and industry indubitably demonstrating that the undertaking was the reverse of a sinecure. Though Melbourne Directories had been previously issued, Butterfield's was the first that contained a well-executed map and classification of the streets of the city, which certainly could not have well been done by his predecessors, for the Corporation had not sanctioned a numbering of the houses. Butterfield's book was repeated in 1855, in a larger and much improved form, is now very scarce, and a perusal in 1888 is a really interesting treat. The third Butterfield brother is the architect who prepared the plans for the Episcopalian Cathedral, now in course of erection in Melbourne, and I am reliably informed that as a designer of ecclesiastical edifices, professionally, he may be ranked next to Pugin.
On the 23rd January, 1849, appears an advertisement of the opening, on the 24th, of "Mr. Palmer's Classical and Commercial Academy, Great Bourke Street." It represents the principal as having been trained in one of the most approved normal schools in Europe, and therefore he could "confidently recommend the system pursued by him, as eminently conducive to forward pupils in every branch of a polite and liberal education. The course of instruction would be guided by the future profession or occupation of his scholars, as parents or guardians may direct. Every care was to be taken of their moral culture, and to instil religious principles." Such promises did not get a chance of effecting much performance.
In March, 1849, the Rev. W. Trollope, M.A., opened a high class school in Little Brunswick (now Fitzroy) Street, Fitzroy. He was a brilliant writer and of rare scholarship, yet his success in Victoria was so restricted that he availed himself of an early opportunity to transfer his regards to Tasmania.
The extent of public patronage accorded to the class of schools referred to, may be estimated from the fact that in 1849 the private scholars numbered 1324, i.e., 722 boys and 602 girls. On 1st January, 1851, the number had increased to 1586, or 722 males and 864 females.
The following tabular return shows the extent to which the Private School system prevailed for the three years indicated:—
| Scholars. | ||||
| Year. | Schools. | Males. | Females. | Total. |
| 1850 | 99 | 1285 | 1367 | 2652 |
| 1851 | 49 | 807 | 884 | 1691 |
| 1852 | 17 | 219 | 253 | 472 |
The decrease in the years 1851-2 can only be accounted for by the supposition that the gold discoveries caused the schools to be deserted, and the flitting of the teachers (of both sexes) to seek more profitable remuneration for the exercise of their abilities.
