Bungaree History Walk
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    • The First School
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    • A Cyclone Destroys the Hall
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    • St Michael's School
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The Bluestone School, No. 1960



In 1875 the Education Department purchased a site for a school and decided to build a bluestone building designed to accommodate 100 pupils. The building was built at a cost of £598.11.0. and opened on 3rd September 1877.  It was built to accommodate up to 100 pupils and was larger than most common buildings built by the Education Department (which were 60 feet by 40 feet and made of timber).

In the opening year School No. 1960 had an average attendance of 104 pupils.  However over the years attendances fluctuated mainly due to the opening of a Catholic School at Bungaree.

Picture

The Railways take some land

At the end of September 1878 the Department received notice from the Victorian Railways which informed them that a line, the “Warrenheip and Gordons Railway” was to be constructed.  The surveyed route would involve excising a corner of the school reserve – the area taken would be 1/10th acre.  Once again, in October 1900, a small piece of land (10 perches) was required when the “Bungaree to Racecourse Railway Trust”. In 1880 a “mere cottage” was relocated to Bungaree to be the Head Teacher’s residence.  It was placed adjacent to the school building.  Prior to this the Head Teacher rode his bicycle from Ballarat.

The school was officially known as No. 1960 Warrenheip until 1909, although it was named in other instances as “Junction”, “Warrenheip Junction”, “Bungaree Junction” and finally officially became “Bungaree”.

The school closes
This school was condemned and closed in July 1924 and students transferred to the new red brick school built 200 yards east of the railway line.  The blue-stone school was left idle for many years and later became a storage shed for potatoes.  In 1988 with the help of a Bi-Centennial Grant, the building was renovated and became the home of the Bungaree & District Historical Society.


Below are some recollections of school life at this school from Bill Grigg. Children from Bungaree Primary School illustrated his memories in 2011.


Click here to learn about the current school.