From Vision and Realisation, A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria, Education Department of Victoria 1973, Vol 2: 4 Avoca (page 611)
At least two schools privately conducted one by Methodists and one by the Church of England-functioned in Avoca as early as 1855. Records vaguely show that a school with some sort of connection with the Government existed in 1856 with George Cook as HT. The first schoolhouse, 20ftx12ftx10ft, was built by Cook at his own expense, of wood and canvas with a slab front, and heated by a stove in winter. In July 1856, a letter to Government bodies requested removal of this school to another goldfield because of the departure of diggers to Dunolly and Mt Ararat fields, and because those who remained 'are drowned out of their holes with water and as a natural consequence those who would send children to school have not the means and will to send them'. On 22nd of December 1854, the sum of £90 17s, collected in the Avoca area, was forwarded to the Secretary of the National Board of Education, towards the establishment of a Government school in Avoca. In 1856 the tender of Johnstone and Steele for the erection of a school building 35ftx20ft, with porch, was accepted, and by 27th of February 1857 the Avoca National School was completed at a cost of £363 8s. The school remained unused until the first teacher, J.L. Willox, arrived from Forest Creek about 15th of June 1857. A total of 33 children (18 boys, 15 girls) were on the roll at 31st of October 1857. By 1867 up to 125 children at times crowded the schoolroom and a letter requesting increased accommodation stated that on hot days 'the atmosphere in the school-room is in the highest degree pestiferous and unwholesome'. This building was eventually sold to the Church of England for use as a parish hall for the nominal price of £5 for the building and £51 for the land, and in 1969 a class of children again used one of the rooms of this building as a temporary classroom. It is now being used as a pre-school centre.
However it was not till 1878 that the present school building was completed, the initial enrolment being approximately 250 pupils. Apart from subdivision of two large rooms in 1910, and the addition of porches, a veranda and other minor alterations, it has remained in its original imposing form to this day, to serve the educational needs of the community. Additional land has recently been acquired to extend the play areas and an enthusiastic and hardworking Committee and a small group of parents have provided extensive grassed play areas and sealed sections in an attractive setting of trees, shrubs and garden beds that would equal those of any school of comparable size in the State, this work was recognised by the awarding of the ANA Prize for 1969. Enrolment in 1970 was 160 pupils. Staffing was C.J. Tepper, Principal, assistants Mrs P. Murrell, Miss G. Mcllroy, C. Fisher, Mrs B. Duncan and Mrs A. Cheeseman.
VPRS 1396 P0000 Volume No 3 image 1
Back to Avoca, December 1950. (1950). The Avoca Town Improvement Fund Committee. Pages 10-11
PROGRESS OF STATE EDUCATION IN AVOCA
By Miss A. M. SCHMIDT
January, 1878, marked the commencement of the free State education in Avoca, the initial enrolment being about 250. The present brick building, No. 4, with its slate roof and stately gables, pays silent tribute to the masterly workmanship of the early pioneers.
Other than the subdivision, in 1910, of two large class rooms and the addition of a cloakroom and verandah, together with lighting improvements, this imposing structure remains in its original form, and no doubt will serve many generations to come, so solid is its make up.
It's No. 4 But Not the Fourth School
No. 4! Yes, but we must not be misled. It was not the fourth school to be built in Victoria. To begin with, schools were not numbered. When the schools began to increase to about 100 odd, the authorities arranged the names alphabetically. Thus Alberton is No. 1. (No. 2 ceases to exist.) No. 3 Allansford, No. 4 Avoca, etc. The A's. went to about 20, then the B's. continued into the sixties and so on. Nevertheless Avoca can claim to be within the first 100 schools.
About 1924, Higher Elementary classes were formed and continued to function till 1927. When Avoca wished to build a Higher Elementary School, the nearness to Maryborough with its added facilities for Secondary and Technical Education proved detrimental to our cause and in 1927 the Secondary Classes were terminated.
It was then brought home to the Avoca people the necessity of higher education. How were they to obtain it? This led to deputations to Government representatives and consequently, in 1927, the Government subsidised a bus to Maryborough. This service began with 16 children, costing 13/ per head-parents paid 6/6 and the Education Department paid 6/6 subsidy. Mr. E. Taylor conducted this service for 12 years-at that time only 12 children travelled daily. In 1939 Mr. H. Powers, the present proprietor, took over the contract.
In 1944 the Government went a step further and free buses were instituted and the numbers went up to 34. This service still continues and is available to all children after they complete a satisfactory course up to Grade 6 standard. So popular is this service that today there are two buses-one commencing at Amphitheatre-conveying 68 children to Maryborough -32 children to Technical School, 31 to High School and five to Convent School.
Now that the Department has acquired 13 acres of land to build a Consolidated School, we hope that the time is not far distant when children from the outlying districts may be able to partake of a fuller education, for the present boys and girls are the future men and women of Australia. Advance Australia Fair!
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