Objects of Substance- The Main Building and the keys to the

But what of the aforementioned “sturdy front door” guarding the Main Building’s exclusive entrance? In 1884, there were two metal keys used to lock Girls Grammar's front door. These keys have their own intriguing story.

1884 Front door keys to the Gailey Building.

In the mid-1980s, the School Bursar 1970 to 1985, Mr John E. Willmott, found the keys in an office drawer, and felt they were no longer useful as the lock had been replaced, and thus the keys were destined for the rubbish. Happily, they were rescued by a long-term member of the School accounts’ team, Ms Toby Humble, who took the keys home. In 2013, when downsizing, Ms Humble found the brass keys again and felt they needed to be returned to the School. They were given to English staff member, Helen Geraghty, who returned them to the Archives and their rightful home. (Toby Humble 18.07.23)