Lot 205

Description

Toorak and South Yarra Try Society Exhibition, 1895, in silver (31mm) by Stokes & Sons (C.1895/1), engraved on reverse 'T.& G.Dalgleish/for/Brushware'. Extremely fine and rare.

The Try Society was formed by William Mark Foster and William Groom in 1883 with the aim of leading boys away from 'larrikinism'. 'Try Excelsior' groups were set up in different suburbs around Melbourne where boys could take part in classes in gymnastics, reading, singing and games. The Toorak and South Yarra Try Boys Society opened in South Yarra in 1887. By 1892 classes in carpentry, boot repairing, shorthand, book-keeping, reading and writing were also offered. The Society also had a library, games rooms, swimming pool, cricket and football clubs. A girls Try Society was situated in Motherwell St, Hawksburn in the late 1890s.