This lantern slide was made after 1960, and intended as a tool document of a model, idealised school, by its Principal, My Henry Tonkin. William Oakes, Archivist to the University of New England, reflects on the context surrounding the slides production. 

Mr Tonkin was highly regarded for running a model school in the New South Wales mining community of Hillgrove. After his appointment to the post in 1889 he took every opportunity to document the students, activities and resources of this school using his extensive photographic skills. Some images were shared by Tonkin with senior Department of Education staff. Many other black and white images created by Tonkin of both school and community remained in the New England district to be archived. A few beautifully coloured slides were located by the University of Western Sydney at their Hawkesbury campus where Mr Tonkin attended a three week professional development course in December 1905. These images were returned to the University of New England archives.