Dorey, Robert James

Robert Dorey was born in Echuca on 6 June 1882, and was educated at state schools in Williamstown. He was apprenticed to the engineering firm of Robinson Brow, and in 1903 became foreman of their city works. In the same year he became a part-time evening tutor at RMIT and obtained a diploma of metallurgy and engineering at the same time. In 1914 he became a full time instructor in charge of blacksmithing and welding. On the 20 October 1921 Mr Dorey was appointed the Principal of Caulfield Technical School which was to open in 1922 with an enrolment of 250 junior day students and a staff of 14. Mr Dorey retired from the Education Department in 1946, by which time the school had more than 2000 students and 66 instructors. A public farewell was given on 5 June 1946 at Caulfield Town Hall. In 1980 Caulfield's R. J. Dorey Mall was named in his honour.