Historical information

This folder contains the official Inspector's reports for House Creek School Number 2266. Inspections were carried out every six months for all Victorian Government Schools.

On 8th October 1879 Mathew Parnaby and others applied for the establishment of a school, between Huon and House Creeks, about four miles southwest of Wodonga. The District Inspector approved and Albert Schlink offered two acres of freehold land as a site, four chains from the southeast corner of Allotment Eight, Section 10, of the Parish of Wodonga in the County of Bogong. A portable classroom, 22ft x14ft, with quarters was erected at a total cost of £192, and SS2266 opened on 1st of June 1880 with Edwin Davis as Head Teacher. In 1883 the average attendance ranged between 12 and 20. Both school and quarters fell into a very bad state of repair. Temporarily closed in 1894, the school reopened as a result of a petition by Ferdinand Godde and others. By 1902 the school had a nett enrolment of 37, the grounds had been fenced, and a shelter shed erected by local effort. By 1907 the nett enrolment had risen to 45 with an average attendance of 37. Ferdinand V. Godde served as Correspondent of the Committee in 1911. House Creek was unstaffed in February 1917 and closed on 8th of November 1917. It reopened on 4th August 1921, but with a nett enrolment of 6, closed on the 24th July 1926. The building was sold for removal.

Many of the reports in this Register were written and signed by Henry Finch Rix. He was a pioneer of the Victorian School Inspection System and from 1884 to 1887 worked as a Chief Inspector in the Beechworth Education District. He had previously played with the Carlton Football Club for one season. Henry Rix was a highly regarded educator and a staunch advocate of the establishment of school libraries to teach children of "the rich stores of profitable pleasure to be found in books."

Significance

This item is significant because it documents progress and recommendations for students at an early government primary school in the Wodonga district.

Physical description

A large bound folder of printed forms. The majority have been completed in handwritten reports including names, notes and statistics.

Inscriptions & markings

On cover: INSPECTOR'S REGISTER BOOK
STATE SCHOOLS