Myrniong Primary School # 487

When perusing the old rolls at the Public Library in Melbourne, of the various schools In the district, it was rather staggering to realise just how many settlers were living in the area between 'Rose Hill' and 'Mount Blackwood' and across to 'Pyke's Creek Reservoir' in the late 1850's to 1880 - about five times as many as at present, and each home being blessed with a large family (up to 14 children in one case the average being six or seven. It needs very little imagination to realise that the schooling requirements of the district were considerable, and even less imagination to know that from 30 to 70 pupils attended each of the five schools functioning at that period.

This Myrniong Primary School commenced operations on the 1st of October, 1859 under Head Teacher Nicholas P. Webbe, with Emma Webbe as Work Mistress, and was known at the time as Pentland Hills National School. Below is a picture of the Myrniong Primary School which was known as state school number 487.

Details of the school first appear in the report of the Board of National Education for 1859-60 where it is described as being vested in the Board, with 28 children (19 boys & 9 girls) on the rolls. However, the average daily attendance was only 23 (16 boys & 7 girls.) Attendance at school in 1859 was not compulsory (indeed, it did not become compulsory until the passing of the education Act 1872.), but it is interesting to look at the numbers and ages of the children who attended the school at that time:

Age & Number of Children
3-4 years	3
4-5 years	0
5-6 years	2
6-7 years	5
7-8 years	4
8-9 years	5
9-10 years	3
10-11 years	5
11-12 years	0
12-13 years	1
Total	28 children

The school was controlled by a Local Committee (Similar to School Councils today) which appointed or dismissed the teacher, and dealt generally with the maintenance of the school and its proper conduct. The members of the committee for 1860-61 were:

In 1863 Benjamin F. Kane, the Secretary of the Board of Education, ordered that each school be issued with a distinguishing number and Pentland Hills, now renamed Myrniong, was given the number 487.

A lack of water was not the only problem that John McColl, Head Teacher (1877-88) had to contend with during his time at Myrniong, as this letter from him in February 1880 shows: “ I beg to direct your attention to the defenceless condition of this school and buildings owing to the fence in place falling out of repair. Cattle are continually trespassing, giving the place the appearance of a somewhat rather extensive cow-yard.” The department replied and the matter was held over for the time being. In December 1883 the tender for £66.6.0 was accepted from George Ludbrook for the construction of fences, Head Teacher William Collins (1894-97) requested permission from the Department "to keep a horse and a cow on the site of the school ", which was given.

March I902 saw the Department receive an application from a Mrs. Fisk to let the unused teacher's residence. In her letter she pointed out that her own house had been damaged by a recent cyclone and no other residence was available in the town. Permission granted.

On May 21, 1904, head Teacher Duncan McLennan again wrote to the department concerning the poor state of repair of the school building. When the Public Works Department reported on this some time later it was noted that the estimated cost of repairs £175 could scarcely be incurred, and recommended instead that a new wooden building to accommodate 45 pupils, to cost £225 should be erected, and that the old building should be sold for renewal. It was estimated that if this was done, the old school would bring at least £30 or £40.

Below is a list of the teachers that have taught at Myrniong Primary School since its inception:

LIST OF HEAD TEACHERS
Nicholas P. Webbe	1859 -70
William McColl	1870-72
Issac M. Rowland	1872-77
Frank Dales	1877
John McColl	1877-88
Henry Mann	1888-93
Archibald Clayton	1893-94
Williams Collins	1894-97
Mrs. Mary Parmenter	1897-1901
Mrs. Edith E. Dudfield	1901
Duncan McLennan	1902-09
Mary McIntyre (Mrs. Sloan)	1903
Viloa S. Oliver	1910
Alfred E. Greer	1911-12
Alexander Hollyhoke	1913-15
William R. Austin	1916-18
William D. Welsh	1919
Alexander W. Lawson	1920
Albert Evans	1920-24
Raymond Pascoe	1924-25
John L. Davies	1925-27
Alan J. Richards	1927-34
Keith V. Weppner	1935-37
Richard C. Bowman	1937-40
Arthur R. Jennings	1941-42
Alice M. Dunn	1942-47
Kenneth R. Birt	1948-50
Leonard G. Baker	1950-54
Thomas W. Spearey	1954-62
Milton Lorica	1962-65
Murray F. Sweeney	1965-69
Kevin J. Parker	1969-71
William J. Millar	1971-73
Bryan Ward	1973-74
Anthony Williams	1974-76
Phillipa Cromie	1976-77
John Dunstan	1977-80
Len Mufitt	1980