Carapook & Bruk Bruk Schools

The location of Carapook School No.1969 is shown in this view (above) looking east from the Carapook Hall. The school was situated within the site defined by the tall eucalypt trees bordering the school reserve, behind the house built for Henry BURCHELL in 1928. Carapook State School No. 1969 with residence attached shown on the right. (thanks to Laurie Burchell)

The three schools associated with the Carapook area were No. 915 Bruk Bruk situated two miles north of Carapook village and which appears to have commenced operating around 1865, followed by a temporary school No. 1624 Carapook, situated in leased premises two miles south east of Carapook village and opened on 21 Sep 1875 and the permanent school situated within the village of Carapook and known as No. 1969 Carapook which opened on 9 Oct 1877.

School No. 915 Bruk Bruk

This school was established as a vested common school in the Coleraine area, opening in a temporary building erected on a reserved site on 1st of July 1867. HT Wm. McBEAN held the position until 30th of April 1868. During the first year of operation the school had an a.a. of 26 (18 boys, 8 girls). The school became a Stae School in 1873 and finally closed on 8th of October 1877.

Source: "Vision & Realisation", Vol 2, Education Department of Victoria.

1865 : Bruk Bruk from an Aboriginal word for swamp oak is the parish to the north of Carapook and it had a Non Vested school established as early as 1865 and located two miles north of the village of Carapook. One of the early teachers was William McBEAN, son of William McBEAN (Snr) one of the signatures mentioned below. There is a letter dated 1 Nov 1865 from the Bruk Bruk School Committee to the Board of Education applying for aid under the Common Schools Act and signed by the following local residents on the school committee:

• William McBEAN Snr.
• James EASTWOOD.
• John EDMONDS.
• John GILBO.
• James Edward(Edmund) BROMLEY.
• Denis NASH.

1868 : In 1868 the following notice was published in "The Age" newspaper listing the names of the Bruk Bruk School Committee...

"The Age" (Melbourne, Vic.) Wednesday, 25th March 1868.
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. Tuesday, 24th March.
SCHOOL COMMITTEES APPOINTED.--Bruk Bruk : Henry Aubrey, James Eastwood, John Gibbs [sic GILBO], David Forbes, John Edmonds, James Dochney [sic DOUGHENEY], Denis Nash, William M'Bean.

• Henry AUBREY. ?
• James EASTWOOD.
• John GILBO.
• David FORBES. ?
• John EDMONDS.
• James DOUGHENEY.
• Denis NASH.
• William McBEAN.

1877 : The Bruk Bruk School continued operating until 9 Oct 1877 when the new Carapook School opened. The last teacher was Caleb RADFORD who became the Head Teacher of the new school known as No. 1969 Carapook.

School No. 1624 Carrapook

Jessie J. DAVEY was the first HT of this school which opened on 21st of September 1875, School was held first in a rented building but a site was obtained on private ground in 1875 and next year a new school and quarters were built. In 1877 the a.a. was 16 (6 boys, 10 girls). This school was closed on 23rd of November 1877. A new school 1969 Carrapook was opened on 9th October 1877 by HT Caleb H. RADFORD. This school incorporated 1624 Carrapook and 915 Bruk Bruk which opened on 1st of July 1867 and closed on 8th of October 1877. Caleb H. RADFORD was HT of this school from 1872 until it closed. He remained at the new school (1969 Carrapook) until 1883.

Source: "Vision & Realisation", Vol 2, Education Department of Victoria.

Carapook appears to have come from the Aboriginal word for hilly country. When the local residents petitioned for a Carapook school in 1875 a local resident John Stock, on 7 Apr 1875 offered to lease to the Education Department a brick cottage for school use at three pounds per annum. The Board decided to accept this offer pending a decision on the construction of a new school and School No 1624 Carapook eventually opened in the leased cottage on 21 Sep 1875 with Jessie J. Davey as Head Teacher and instruction commenced on 18 Oct 1875. This school was located 2 miles SSE of the village of Carapook and remained opened until until 23 Nov 1877. The average attendance during 1877 had been 16 pupils.

School No. 1969 Carapook

One of the few recognisable features of SS No.1969 Carapook is the front gate shown in this 2002 photograph.

In August 1875 a group of 25 parents resident in the parishes of Bruk Bruk and Carapook petitioned the Hon. Angus MacKay M.L.A., Minister of Public Instruction, to establish a school on the government Reserve at Carapook. The petitioneers were advised that their application would be considered. Initially Carapook School No 1624 as mentioned above was commenced in leased premises until the new school was constructed. The key steps in the establishment of the new school were:

• The District Inspector on 18 Sep 1875 recommended that the site described as allotment 17 Parish of Carapook be immediately reserved for a school site.
• The Department on 9 Oct 1875 applied to the Department of Lands and Survey for the reservation of this site which was gazetted on 3 Mar 1876.
• On 15 Sep 1876 Kohn and Campbell tendered to erect a school-house and 3 roomed quarters for sum of 525 pounds. William H. Boyle on 16 Sep 1876 tendered to erect the premises for 500 pounds.
• I.L. Forrester on 29 Nov 1876 tendered to erect the school for the sum of 490 pounds. The tender was accepted.
• The District Inspector on 2 Nov 1876 suggested that the proposed new school could replace both existing schools Carapook 1624 and Bruk Bruk 915.
• The new school was eventaually completed on 21 Mar 1877, but not occupied until a final decision was made about Carapook School 1624 currently operating in leased premises.
• On 1 Sep 1877 the Deaprtment decided to transfer the school from the leased premises to the newly erected school-house when furniture and requisites had been supplied.
• The new school named S.S. Carapook No. 1969 and incorporating both S.S. 915 Bruk Bruk and 1624 Carapook was opened on 9 Oct 1877 by Head Teacher Caleb H. Radford, (the former Head Teacher of S.S. 915 Bruk Bruk).

Carapook School Petition of 1875

Those who signed the August 1875 petition for the provision of a school at Carapook were:

• Laurence Molloy, Farmer of Carapook
• Thomas Marsh, Labourer of Bruk Bruk
• David Murray, Farmer of Bruk Bruk
• William Milburn, Farmer of Bruk Bruk
• William Hayes, Labourer of Bruk Bruk
• John Ferrier, Farmer of Beerik
• James Doughney, Farmer of Bruk Bruk
• John Bellenger, Farmer of Bruk Bruk
• Samuel Brierley, Farmer of Carapook
• J. Jennings, Carrier of Carapook
• Thomas White, Farmer of Carapook
• Christoph Luers, Farmer of Carapook
• Henry Burchell, Labourer of Carapook
• Michael Cotter, Labourer of Carapook
• John Gibson, Baker of Carapook
• Simon Anderson, Farmer of Carapook
• Mary McCahill of Carapook
• James Templeton, Farmer of Carapook
• William Dixon, Labourer of Bruk Bruk
• David Houston, Carpenter of Carapook
• John Menzies, Blacksmith of Carapook
• C. McA. King, Station Manager of Muntham
• Nathaniel McKenzie, of Carapook
• John Proudfoot, Storekeeper of Carapook

Acknowledgement

Appreciation is expressed for the information provided by the History Section of the Education Department of Victoria as the basis for this article.

Carapook Schools & Teachers from "Vision & Realisation"

1969 CARAPOOK:

Carapook, meaning 'hilly country' was named by the Aborigines. In 1837 the Henty Brothers took up the land around Coleraine, Casterton, Sandford, Merino and Runnymede. In the 1860s, when land was made available for selection, a consequent influx of families occurred. Perceiving the children's need, Elliot commenced a school on part of a property called 'Burnbank'. Children paid a shilling each, per day, to attend. Several years later, local residents built a permanent school building out of stone, and a residence on the same property. Known as Bruk Bruk School No 915, this commenced in 1867. The first HT William M. McBean stayed for ten months. In 1872 Caleb H. Radford became HT Then in 1877 Radford transferred with the school to a new stone building and residence in the Carapook village. This new school was known as Carapook SS 1969. Being on the present school site it is 3 miles SW of 'Burnbank'. Radford remained until 1883. During this time young women, and even young men with beards, attended the school.

HTs to follow included:

• William D. Thomas (1883-87);
• John R. Ullyett (1887-88);
• Henry T. Hayman (1888-1902);
• Maria Higgins (1903-4);
• Charles Waters (c1906);
• Edith E. Brotchie (1917-18); and
• Daisy Lilley (1918-19).
Up to this time attendances at the school had been in the vicinity of 40-50.
• Flora McCorkindale (1919-21);
• Margaret Gilbo (1922 - 27);
• Henry 'Bill' O'Halloran (1928-39);
• Brian Minogue (1940);
• Ian McCombe (1941),
were the HTs that followed. No longer in use, the residence was tendered for, successfully, by Les Anson, who resited the structure on his own property. Between 1941-47 there were several temporary HTs. Permanent HTs to follow included
• James C. Mahoney (1947-50);
• Felix 'Lex' McLinden (1951-53); and
• Brian Hyland (1954).
From 1954 onwards Grades 7-8 were no longer taught. Then followed:
• Peter F. Caulfield (1955-57);
• Robert C. Doyle (1957) and
• William H. Morrell (1958-60).
In 1959 a new building was erected and opened in 1960.
• John J. Purcell (1960-62) and
• Barry C. Leslie
came to the school. Then in 1964-5 a telephone was installed and electric power connected.
• Kenneth R. Baker (1967) and
• Kerry A. Turner (1968-9)
were two recent HTs.

Source: "Vision & Realisation", Vol 2, Education Department of Victoria.