History
In 1883, Stott’s College was established as the first Australian institute to offer specialised business training. In 2013, Stott’s College, Melbourne Language Centre and Front Cooking School officially began trading under the parent company of Acknowledge Education. What began as a small typewriter training institute in Melbourne nearly 140 years ago has since expanded to additional campuses in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane. Keep reading to learn more about the fascinating history behind this historic institute.
2023
Acknowledge Education opens the second campus in Oxford Street in Darlinghurst (Sydney) .
Chien Vu is appointed the Chief Executive Officer at Acknowledge Education.
Acknowledge Education’s CEO, Chien Vu.
2022
Acknowledge Education opens the third campus in Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD.
2021
Acknowledge Education opens the second campus in Murray Street in Perth CBD.
2020
Acknowledge Education opens Brisbane campus.
2019
Diploma of Practical Accounting (Higher Education) was established for both
Melbourne and Perth campuses.
2018
Diploma of Nursing received accreditation by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).
Perth campus run Bachelor of Business and Advanced Diploma of Business.
Diploma of Community Services course expands to the Sydney and Perth campuses.
2017
Acknowledge Education moves its headquarters from the Carlton campus to 168 Exhibition St in the Melbourne CBD.

Acknowledge Education Melbourne City campus

Acknowledge Education Perth Campus
Diploma of Community Services program receives accreditation and begins operating out of Melbourne.
2015
Stott’s College expands to a campus in Barangaroo, Sydney.
2010
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) commences.
2009
The Bachelor of Business (Community Services Management) commenced. In 2018, this course merged into Bachelor of Community Services.
2007
The Diploma of Community Services commences. Originally named Diploma of Community Welfare Work but changed in 2015 due changes in VET. It was accredited by Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA). The course was put on hiatus between 2013-2016.
2006
The Bachelor of Business (Double Major Accounting) was accredited by NIA
(National Institute of Accountants). All students that graduated from a Bachelor of Business could gain professional accreditation in Australia with NIA, an assessing authority for Australia’s General Skilled Migrant Program.
2005
Stott’s College gained Higher Education Degree accreditation.
2003
VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) program commenced in the Stott’s Secondary Program.
2002
The Australian Surf Industry Training school was accredited by AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework). This course allowed to develop markets in Europe, South America and in the domestic market.
2001
The Box Hill campus is opened, focusing on High School Preparation (HSP). The program prepares students for independent schools in the eastern suburbs region of Melbourne.
Stott’s year 11 & 12 VCE program commenced in the city. The program was initiated due to the growth of the Chinese market, and the need for an in house pathway course following English. This allowed Stott’s to develop a strong Chinese market as an offshore ‘letter of offer’ was required from the principal education provider to allow students to come to Australia for English language.
1998
Acknowledge Education acquired Stott’s Business College, then named it Stott’s College. It is owned and operated by a common board. Stott’s College is widely regarded as one Australia’s oldest running Colleges with more than 120 years history in providing various professional training.
Suzanne Jackson is appointed the head of Stott’s College and CEO of Acknowledge Education.

Acknowledge Education’s CEO, Suzanne Jackson.
Stott’s College establishes a campus in Elizabeth St, Melbourne.

Stott’s College, Elizabeth St Melbourne Campus (1998-2009).
1981
Stott’s College named as Stott’s Secretarial College.
1979

Stott’s Business College, Perth campus in 1979.
1963

Mr D. Sharp, principal of Stott’s Business College.
Mr D. Sharp is appointed principal of Stott’s Business College.
1930-1949

Stott’s Business College in Melbourne.
Stott’s Business College building estimated to be from 1930’s or 1940’s in Melbourne.
1927

Newspaper Advertisement of Stott’s Business College in Perth.
Stott’s Business College Perth.
1914

Community notice announcing the relocation of Stott’s Business College to Russel St, Melbourne.
Due to the growth in the student population of Stott’s Business and Correspondence Colleges (with enrolments exceeding 1000 students), it moved from Collins St to a much larger building in Russell St. Stott’s was the only institute of it’s kind to occupy an entire city building. There was 4 departments at the time including the Commercial, Shorthand, Typewriting and Accountancy. Day and evening classes were offered as well as courses tailor towards high school student.
1911
Stott’s College football team photo.

Stott’s College Football team photo in 1911.
1910
Stott’s College has campuses across major cities in Australia and New Zealand including Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, and Dunedin.

Stott’s Business College campuses across Australia and New Zealand.
- Students in the Public Exam Room in 1910.
- Students in the Intermediate Shorthand Class in 1910.
- Students of the 1st Floor Corridor in 1910.
- Students in the Intermediate Typing Class in 1910.
- Students in the Final Typing Class in 1910.
- Students in Typewriting Class in 1910.
- Miss E.R. Leake from Stott’s Business College comes 1st place in the Commonwealth Typists Examination.
- Miss O. Anderson, dux of the Typewriting Department of Stott’s Business College in 1910.
- An advertisement for Stott’s Business College typists course in 1910.
- Miss J.M. Donovan, runner up typist.
- Exceptional junior shorthand students in 1910.
- An example of shorthand.
- Stott’s College staff photo in 1910.
- Stott’s College staff photo in 1910.
- Stott’s Business College, General College Office.
- Stott’s Business College, office photo.
- Exceptional script shorthand students in 1910.
- Exceptional typist students in 1910.
1909
Chief Instructor of the Commerce Department, Mr C.H. Holmes, assumed the position of Headmaster.

Stott’s Business College Football Team visited Adelaide in 1909.
Stott’s Business College Football team visited Adelaide.
1889
John Henry Starling who later became Secretary to the Australian Governor General won a scholarship to the Stott’s & Hoare Business College.
1883
Stott’s College was founded by its principal Sydney Stott, making it the first institute in Australia to provide specialised business training. Sydney Stott had a business in partnership with William Hoare selling typewriters. This was the first introduction of typewriters in Australia and hence part of Stott’s motivation was to skill the Australian workforce in the use of typewriters.

Sydney Stott, founder of Stott’s College.