In 1875 the government acquired the use of two buildings, one a fisherman's hut on the west bank of the Glenelg River, the other an old residence about ¾ mile E. James Miller DUNBAR was placed in charge of these schools and on 15th of July 1875, he began working them on a part-time basis. In 1876 two new government buildings were erected, one on the W side and the other, No 1615, about 1½ miles E of the river. As the population of the W side decreased the school was removed to 2397 Ardno, and SS1615 Nelson became a full-time school with an a.a. of 30 pupils. In 1907, because of declining numbers, the school worked part-time with Mouzie, a school half-way between Nelson and Portland. In 1920, Mouzie closed and 1615 Nelson became full-time again. In April 1925 the school was transferred to the local church where it continued until 1928 when the present building, a single classroom, weatherboard school, was erected about ½ mile E of the river. The first HT of the new school was James MOLONEY, who enrolled 20 pupils in February 1928.
Source: "Vision & Realisation", Vol 2, Education Department of Victoria.