School's out for ever

With the start of the new school year, it's time to consider abandoned schools. Many small rural schools sprang up late 19th century with the increase in population from opening the land up for selection. In fact many localities (Antwerp, Kalkee & Tullyvea, just three) had a church on one corner and the school on another. Now many are gone, marked only by a plaque or stand of trees. Many schools celebrated Arbour Day by planting trees around the perimeter.

Tullyvea school opened on 3.5.1898, a one-room mud brick building also used for entertainment and church services. In June 1932 the Public Works Department tendered out the removal of the Nullan South State School No. 1644 (between Warracknabeal and Minyip) and its re-erection at Tullyvea. This weatherboard building was destroyed by fire in June 1934. School was conducted across the road in the church until the school was rebuilt and opened in June 1935, a shelter shed was added a year later. Fluctuating attendances eventually caused the school to close on 4.3.1953. Plaque “Commemorating the site of the Tullyvea State School no. 3310 1898-1953, erected by past pupils 14.6.1987”.

Tullyvea

Nurcoung South school No. 3157, the first school (a leased room on the farm of J. Buffham) was officially opened on 14th June 1892, it closed in 1904 due to dwindling enrolments. School was re-opened on 13th July 1936 with 11 pupils. Land had been purchased from J. Fuller, the former living quarters were leased for use as a school and parents carted tanks and furniture from the closed Koonik School. In January 1944 a bushfire destroyed part of the buildings without harming the schoolroom itself. Mr Fuller had a house removed to a position on the main road and here school was held until its closure in November 1955. Mrs Marcia Buffham had taught at the school for 14 years, since 1941.

Kalkee school No. 1840. The first school on the site a portable building of drop-log construction with living quarters, was officially opened on 23rd February 1877. It closed in March 1905 due to a small enrolment, then re-opened on 15th of April 1912 (while it was closed 43 rabbits took up residence under the floor). In 1925 when the teacher and 17 children contracted diphtheria (2 fatally) the mouldering disrepair of the building was held partly responsible, (the old school was converted into a shearing shed - pictured) a newly constructed school with attached residence and a 235 sugar gum plantation was opened in 1926. Due to falling numbers it finally closed on 5th December 1993, after 117 years.

Above - The "new" Kalkee school, Below - Riachella

Riachella No. 2674, the first Riachella school opened on 3.8.1885 with 19 pupils, but closed in 1893. The second school (No. 4331) to be called Riachella, opened on 6.1.1929, a single wooden classroom on a corner of the Glenorchy-Marnoo road with the Riachella Tramline road. It closed in December 1954 due to insufficient numbers. Now all that remains is the shed above, a very sad set of tennis courts and a tree plantation, but it is worthy of being included in Google Maps Street View below.