Historical information

Red Bluff was a grazing district with a few miners, a blacksmith and a storekeeper. Its 30 children used to attend school at Sandy Creek or Tangambalanga until a new school was built at Red Bluff. It opened in January 1906.

The school had been proposed by T. Thomas, William Stuckey and James Payne. The original one-room school was built on land owned by Mrs A.E. Stuckey near Five Ways about 4 miles from the Huon Railway station. When the Tangambalanga school was rebuilt about 1910 the old one was annexed to Red Bluff as a second room.
When the school opened about 35 pupils attended Grades 1 – VI under W. Boyd Jamieson and assistant Miss A.M Thomas. The first Committee consisted of T. Thomas, Chairman; W. H. Stuckey, Correspondent; J. Payne, C.W. Crosthwaite and T. H. Nevin. In 1914 a teacher’s residence was built.

During the First World War, Frank McNamara, a teacher at the school, was awarded the Victoria Cross; another teacher Frank Collins, was killed. Or the 12 ex-students who enlisted, 11 returned. The school itself raised considerable funds for patriotic purposes. Divine Service was held twice monthly in the school for many years. The school closed in 1952 with the pupils and buildings being relocated to the Kiewa Valley Consolidated School. The residence continued to be occupied by teachers until condemned in 1966.

Significance

This item is significant because it documents a small school in the Wodonga District.

Physical description

A framed black and white photo of Red Bluff Primary School.

Inscriptions & markings

On side of building
Red Bluff School
No 3526