Gateway to a Man’s Career.

The main gates to the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick were dedicated to Sir Alexander Peacock KCMG by the Minister for Lands and Forests, Sir Albert Lind, on 10 October 1952.

Prior to the new gates there was just a simple wire fence.

Peacock was born at Creswick in 1861 and was the local politician at the time when VSF opened in 1910. He spent 44 years in State Parliament including becoming the 20th Premier of Victoria in 1901. He died in October 1933.

The old Creswick hospital buildings and grounds were purchased by the Victorian Government and refurbished at the instigation of John Johnstone, Superintendent of State Plantations, under the direction of Donald McLeod, then Minister of Forests, (1904–1909) followed by Sir Peter McBride, Minister from 1909 to 1913.

There is some debate about the role and significance that Sir Alexander Peacock made compared to Johnstone.

The new entrance was promoted as a “Gateway to a Man’s Career” by the Forests Commission until female students first entered the school in 1976.