150 years: Doctor's Creek State School

Learn about the history of Doctor's Creek State School one of Victoria’s oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
Lexton, 3352
Opened:
1 November 1872
Closed:
12 April 1896
School type:
Primary
School number:
1162
Other names:
Doctor's Creek Common School

The history of Doctor's Creek State School

  • 1872

    Doctor's Creek opened. The schoolhouse was a weatherboard building with a shingle roof on a one-acre site, 50 km north-east of Lexton.

    A few years earlier, a committee was formed to help the local community raise funds to build the school. Their first application was for aid as a rural school, but it had been refused by the Board of Education in 1870. However, the committee's second application was for aid as a common school, and this was granted in 1872.

    Harry P. Seymour was head teacher.

    Seymour was a former teacher at Lamplough Common School (No. 1239) and Lilicur Common School (No. 962). He had been the person who first recommended the establishment of a permanent school in the Doctor's Creek settlement.

  • 1874

    A teacher's house was added.

  • 1887

    Due to low student numbers, there was a proposal for the school to teach part-time. This would have meant sharing teaching staff with Lilicur State School (No. 1239).

    This proposal was not put into effect.

  • 1893

    Enrolment numbers were 40, and the average student attendance was 30.

  • 1896

    The school closed because only two families with children of school age remained in the district.

    A few years later, in 1898, the school building was sold and it was removed from the school site.

Can you help us find records for this school?

The Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) doesn't have any historical records for this closed school. If you have any, or if you know of any, please let us know by emailing 150years@education.vic.gov.au

Updated