Snapshot of the past

A photograph of students gathered at Longwarry State School c1900.
In part two of the "Education in Longwarry" series, we reflect on schooling in the Longwarry district.
The Longwarry State School No. 2505 opened on July 1, 1882 in an 8.5 metre by 3.5 metre weatherboard building with a bark roof on the corner of Mackey St and Drouin Rd.
Parents and teacher Maria McBride argued that the building, owned by William Rhodes, was not suitable. By February 1884, the Education Board decided to build a new permanent school.
In May 1884, the department selected a site for a permanent school - exactly where it still stands today. A seven metre by five metre school with a three-room attached residence was built. By October 1885, the Longwarry children moved in.
Maria McBride was glad of her new school and remained in charge until 1894.
As an aside, getting kids to school was a big problem. A report from 1889, shows that 87 students were enrolled but barely half attended.
But what of the Rock Cutting School mentioned in part one of our series? The school was the first opened in the Longwarry district in 1880 at the railway workers camp about 1.5km east of the township.
Records show it was certainly still operating in 1885 with 17 pupils. However, the Board of Education wanted to close it and for the students to travel to Drouin.
This was not an acceptable alternative for the families. Travelling to Drouin was a very difficult trip, and almost impossible in the winter months.
The Rock Cutting School closed its doors in 1886 and presumably the children came into Longwarry. The Rock Cutting Camp would not have lasted long after this date anyway.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Longwarry and District History Group.
The history group focuses on history in the 3816 postcode, including Longwarry, Labertouche and Modella.
For further information, visit longwarryhistory.org.au.