Schools
The first school in South Gippsland was at Woolamai in 1866, then Grantville in 1874.
When families settled an area the provision of a school was important and members of the community wrote to the education department requesting a school and teacher. In Poowong the community volunteered to construct a school building so a school could be established in 1878. It was compulsory for children to attend school for 30 days each quarter but even this was difficult especially in winter. Early schools were very simple buildings. They were often chock and log or slab structures and it took many years for the proper weather board buildings to be constructed.
A typical bush school made of slabs with a bark roof.
An early school, note the dead trees in the background and the young pine trees.
Students in an early school at Berrys Creek. (From Leongatha Secondary College)
