Old, vintage, historical book archives at the Morwell Historical Society

Driffield School No.2433

A Journey in Time – A Resource for Local History

Driffield School No.2433

In May 1880 the people of Driffield forwarded a petition to their local member of Parliament Mr. F. C. Mason, the petition was requesting the establishment of a school for the area. The petitioners were: Alexander Deru, James Johnston, Thomas Hopkins, David Jones, David Williams, Adolphus Witholz, Joseph Rowley, and Samuel Vary.

The Driffield School No. 2433 opened on November 1st. 1881 in a portable structure with living quarters for the teacher. The building which was able to accommodate up to 30 pupils was constructed for the education authorities by Samuel Vary in October 1881 at a cost of £116.16.0.

The enrolment figure in the first year was 28 with the average attendance being 21, but this dropped to 10 in 1902 and the school became half-time with Hazelwood Ridge school No. 1768.

The school was burnt to the ground on 11th February 1905 in the bushfires that raged through the district that summer.

In February 1921 the Education Department received a petition from local residents requesting the re-establishment of the school at Driffield, as there were 28 children of school age waiting to attend classes.

Driffield School was not re-established until 30th of January 1923 when classes were held in the Driffield Hall, the hall was leased by the Department for £7.10.0 per annum. Poor enrolments caused closure again on 26th of August 1931.

The 30th of January 1940 saw classes resumed, once again in the Driffield Hall.

The school was established on its present site on the 29th. of March 1946. A residence for the use of the teacher was provided in 1951.

Head Teachers

YearName
1881-1886William Francis
1886Thomas M. Kewish
1887-1892John Jones
1893Helen Couston
1894Edith M. Whitlam
1895-1898Ellen Gay
1898Annie I. Bennett
1898-1900Edith Lacey
1901Violet Leadbeater
1901-1902E. S. Sinclair
1903-1905John Sullivan
1923-1927Henry J. Lucas
1927-1928Margaret Sambrook
1928-1930Catherine P. Howe
1930-1931Hilda W. Fox
1940-1943William H. Annear
1945-1948Charles E. Anderson
1948-1950Ronald J. Moylan
Feb-Sep. 1951John J. Horan
1951-1956Alan H. Mackinder
May-Sep. 1956William O. Russell
1956-1958James F. Mason
1959Ian H. Legg
1959-1962Alan R. Mathieson
1963Colin M. Powers
1964Bruce J. Tulloch
1965Warren J. O’Toole
1966Robert Counahan
1967Douwe S. Van Veen
1968-1969Garrick J. Anderson
May-Dec. 1969Barry A. Curley
1970-1972Raymond Heathcote
1973-1975Trevor Alexander