Coimadai is a rural community located 10km north of Bacchus Marsh. The Coimadai School was opened in 1862. It was at first entirely funded by the local residents in the area. In these early years it was known as the Pyrete School after the nearby creek of that name. The building shown in this 1883 image was constructed in 1872 and replaced an earlier wooden structure. Over time the Coimadai School became a government funded and administered school. A famous pupil to attend the school was John Cain Senior, Premier of Victoria in the 1940s and 1950s, who attended the school for one year in 1893. This school still operates as a state primary school.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. The image is a large group portrait of the pupils of the Coimadai State School and their two male teachers. There are about 60 pupils. The older children are standing in rows and a younger group of pupils is seated on forms or benches in front of them. One teacher stands on the right of the group of pupils and the other is on the left. The School building can be seen in the background.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE schools, schools coimadai vic., stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district

The family group in this image is the Burnip family. George Burnip came to Australia in 1854. In 1856 he married Julia Grant. Sometime after this he came to the Bacchus Marsh area and purchased a farm near Coimadai and named it 'The Pines'. George Burnip was active in public affairs as a member of School Board of Advice and the Agricultural Society. One of the two men in this image is likely to be George Burnip, probably the man on the left. The man standing on the right is possibly his son, John, who would have been 22 at the time this photo was taken. The woman seated on a chair placed on the pathway is probably Mrs Julia Burnip. The woman standing with her arms crossed is possibly Mrs Julia Carroll (nee Burnip). The children pictured are likely to be the five Burnip children and two others.Small sepia unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. An image showing a brick house with a pitched roof in three separate sections. Two chimneys on either side of the house can be seen. Standing in front of the house is a group of people, male and female, young and old. One female is older and is seated in a chair. At the front of the group is a dog.On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE houses coimadai vic, stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district, houses bacchus marsh, burnip family bacchus marsh