Bahgallah SS 1586
Bahgallah is the district surrounded
by the Glenelg River, Dartmoor Rd and Penola Rd. Until 1872 some
district children travelled to denominational schools in Tasmania
while others attended one of the three Casterton schools - one
common school and two private schools. But many children had no
schooling.
In 1872 a local Committee - Edward
RANDER, Isreal GRINHAM, John DWYER, Fred MERCHANT, Thomas RYAN -
petitioned for a school to be built on a site of 5 acres -
Allotment 49, Parish of Bahgallah, County of Follet. DI Brodribb
supported the proposal so that, in 1875, with some 20 children
requiring education, a school was opened by HT Thomas C. EVANS.
The wooden school room with attached
quarters of three rooms and a pantry, measured 30ftx18ft and cost
£522, local people contributing £50. Since 1875 the residence has
been modernised and enlarged. By the end of 1875, 55 children had
enrolled from the following families: RYAN, CORNELL, LEWIS,
LEAHANE, CACILY, DAY, GRINHAM, PEZILY, MURPHY, GLEED, HAPPESON,
McINTYRE, McLEAN.
The majority of the children's
parents were farmers but there was one inn keeper and two
labourers. Thirty-five teachers have taught more than 800 children
in the school from 1875 until the present time.
Source: "Vision & Realisation",
Vol 2, Education Department of Victoria.