Old School Museum facts for kids

The Old School Museum in Merimbula, New South Wales, Australia, is a special place. It's a museum that tells the story of the local area. What makes it extra cool is that it's located inside Merimbula's very first school building!

The School's Early Days

How the School Started

In 1869, a minister named Rev. William Thom and his wife, Clarinda Menie, moved to the Twofold Bay area. Clarinda was the daughter of a very important person, Sir Henry Parkes, who later became a Premier of New South Wales. Both the Thoms strongly believed that all children should have a chance to go to school.

Even though a nearby town, Pambula, already had a good school, the Thoms saw that Merimbula needed one too. Clarinda even spoke to her father, Sir Henry Parkes, about it, and he was very supportive. In October 1869, Rev. Thom, along with Adam K. Page and Armstrong L. Munn, officially asked for a school to be built in Merimbula. Parents in the area agreed to help pay for part of the building.

Building the First School

The school first opened in a temporary place in 1870. Then, a new stone building was constructed on Main Street. The land for this building was given by Sir William Montagu Manning. This new school building was first used on October 8, 1875. It's quite special because it's believed to be one of only three old school buildings in New South Wales that had both classrooms and a home for the teacher all in one place.

School Life and Fees

When the stone school building opened in 1875, there were 39 children enrolled. Back then, parents had to pay a small fee for their children to attend school. The local school board decided how much these fees would be.

Initially, families paid nine pence each week for their first child and six pence for any other children. By 1893, these fees were lowered to three pence per child per week, with a maximum of nine pence for a whole family.

The School Moves On

The original stone school building was used until the end of 1945. After that, the school moved to a new, bigger location. The old building's teacher's home was fixed up and rented out. The old classroom was used for different community events for several years.

From School to Museum

A New Purpose for the Old Building

Eventually, the old school building was left empty for a while. But in 1969, a group called the Merimbula-Imlay Historical Society was formed. They saw the potential in the old building and asked if they could use it as a museum.

After a lot of hard work and repairs, the building was finally ready. The Old School Museum officially opened its doors in 1973.

Protecting History

The building is very important for its history. It has been recognized by the National Trust, which means it's a special heritage site. It's also listed on the Register of the National Estate, showing its importance to Australia's history and culture.