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Big Swamp State School

Learn about the history of Swamp State School, one of Victoria's oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
Clunes 3370
Opened:
8 November 1869
Closed:
23 May 1902
School type:
Primary
School number:
965
Other names:
Big Swamp Common School, Big Swamp State School

How to find enrolment and other school records

If the school is open: contact the school directly to access your records.

If the school has closed: contact the Archives and Records branch via email archives.records@education.vic.gov.au or 1800 359 140 and they will assist you.

The history of Big Swamp State School

  • 1869

    Big Swamp opened as a common school in 1869 for the local settler children.

    The schoolhouse was built on the main road from Clunes to Majorca.

    The first head teacher was John McPhee.

  • 1870s

    The school became a state school at some stage between 1873 and 1878.

    A four-room house was built for the head teacher in 1872. Two rooms had to be used as classrooms because of the growing number of students.

    The number of students enrolled had risen to 60 and the school was renovated in 1877.

  • 1887

    Student numbers were falling. The head teacher's house was rented out.

  • 1895

    The school closed in 1895 because there were not enough children.

  • 1900

    The school reopened on 1 November 1900 for a trial period.

  • 1902

    The trial was not successful and the school closed in 1902.

Find more information about this school

The Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) is the archive of Victoria's State and local government. They look after some of our oldest school records, and we can use these records to help us understand what school life used to be like.

PROV currently only have paper records for this school.

Updated