Ardmona Primary School No 1563
(formerly Mooroopna District)
|
The school, earlier known as Mooroopna and Mooroopna District, was sought in November 1874
when Martin Cussen, soon to be a councillor of Waranga and later Rodney Shire, advised the
Department that a local Committee had erected a school, and sought furniture and teacher. Dan
Murray, Secretary of the Mooroopna United Vigilance Association also sought school facilities. The
‘do it yourself’ building constructed of hardwood, 24ftx14ft, with a shingle roof, but unlined and
lacking a chimney, opened as a school on 27th of September 1875, with Maria Crimp as Head
Teacher until March 1878. The building, erected with typical enthusiasm, had neither spoutings,
tanks nor out-offices in 1877, and was dilapidated and ‘totally unfit for use’ according to the
Secretary of the Board of Advice, William Caffin. The District Inspector reported that ‘the building
should be made to serve for a year or two longer’.
A new schoolroom was erected in 1885, grounds fenced in 1886, and an underground tank installed.
In 1890 Head Teacher Sarah Mills suggested a change of name to Ardmona, as the school was
erected on part of the Ardmona Estate. Advocated by F.J. Camp, a new schoolroom and residence
were added to the school in 1911. The fact that the school was a practising and observation school
and famous for its agricultural plots, helped to attain these objectives. Director Frank Tate showed a
personal interest in Ardmona. By 1913 enrolment had reached 71, and the development of irrigation
in the area continued to push the school forward.
Accommodation in 1917 consisted of two rooms 26ftx24ft and 24ftxl6ft, but with an attendance of
90, additional accommodation was required. Remodelling and extending the small classroom to
form two rooms, and the wiring in of an open verandah to be used as a classroom were carried out
in 1921. A memorial gate to W.T. Lees, who had served as Head Teacher for 13 years, doing splendid
work, was erected by the residents and officially opened by G.S. Browne, Vice-Principal of the
Teachers College. Extensive repairs to the residence in 1933 cost￡178 17s 11d. In 1948 additions
were carried out and the old section remodelled, so that the school building now comprised four
rooms and an office, 14ftx10ft. Net Enrolment at this time was 101. On Friday 9th of September
1949, the Minister, Brig, the Hon. R.W. Tovell, MLA, accompanied by the Hon. J.G.B. McDonald, MLA,
the Hon. D.J. Walters, MLC, the Director, Major-General A.H. Ramsay, the Private Secretary, B.A.
Keddie and District Inspector Bennett, visited the school to view the additions. The contractor had
caused considerable frustration by having been on the job for 2½ years.
https://www.ardmonaps.vic.edu.au
when Martin Cussen, soon to be a councillor of Waranga and later Rodney Shire, advised the
Department that a local Committee had erected a school, and sought furniture and teacher. Dan
Murray, Secretary of the Mooroopna United Vigilance Association also sought school facilities. The
‘do it yourself’ building constructed of hardwood, 24ftx14ft, with a shingle roof, but unlined and
lacking a chimney, opened as a school on 27th of September 1875, with Maria Crimp as Head
Teacher until March 1878. The building, erected with typical enthusiasm, had neither spoutings,
tanks nor out-offices in 1877, and was dilapidated and ‘totally unfit for use’ according to the
Secretary of the Board of Advice, William Caffin. The District Inspector reported that ‘the building
should be made to serve for a year or two longer’.
A new schoolroom was erected in 1885, grounds fenced in 1886, and an underground tank installed.
In 1890 Head Teacher Sarah Mills suggested a change of name to Ardmona, as the school was
erected on part of the Ardmona Estate. Advocated by F.J. Camp, a new schoolroom and residence
were added to the school in 1911. The fact that the school was a practising and observation school
and famous for its agricultural plots, helped to attain these objectives. Director Frank Tate showed a
personal interest in Ardmona. By 1913 enrolment had reached 71, and the development of irrigation
in the area continued to push the school forward.
Accommodation in 1917 consisted of two rooms 26ftx24ft and 24ftxl6ft, but with an attendance of
90, additional accommodation was required. Remodelling and extending the small classroom to
form two rooms, and the wiring in of an open verandah to be used as a classroom were carried out
in 1921. A memorial gate to W.T. Lees, who had served as Head Teacher for 13 years, doing splendid
work, was erected by the residents and officially opened by G.S. Browne, Vice-Principal of the
Teachers College. Extensive repairs to the residence in 1933 cost￡178 17s 11d. In 1948 additions
were carried out and the old section remodelled, so that the school building now comprised four
rooms and an office, 14ftx10ft. Net Enrolment at this time was 101. On Friday 9th of September
1949, the Minister, Brig, the Hon. R.W. Tovell, MLA, accompanied by the Hon. J.G.B. McDonald, MLA,
the Hon. D.J. Walters, MLC, the Director, Major-General A.H. Ramsay, the Private Secretary, B.A.
Keddie and District Inspector Bennett, visited the school to view the additions. The contractor had
caused considerable frustration by having been on the job for 2½ years.
https://www.ardmonaps.vic.edu.au
