“Challenging traditions : a history of Melbourne Grammar” by Weston Bate and Helen Penrose.

Dr John Edward Bromby, Headmaster: “While Bromby did not express the same views as Morris about the problem with teaching and disciplining Australian boys, he meted out swift and severe punishments – so severe, in fact, as to draw complaints from parents. Bromby was challenged by the Council about the use of the ‘Black Hole’. They had received complaints by parents ‘of the confinement of boys in closets from which all light is excluded to which many parents strongly object and the Council are unanimous in desiring that punishments of this character be not inflicted’