 Harrie Stewart Wilson Massey was born in Invermay , Victoria , Australia , on 16 May 1908 , the only child of Harrie Stewart Massey , a miner , and his wife Eleanor Elizabeth née Wilson . He grew up in the rural community of Hoddles Creek , and enrolled in the local state school in 1913 . He received his Merit Certificate , normally awarded after completing the eighth grade , when he was nine , but due to his age he still had to stay there for another three years . He won a scholarship to University High School , and moved to Parkville with his mother in 1920 . At University High School he was president of the Science Club and vice captain of the cricket team . 
