One of the earliest Aboriginal schools in Victoria was established in 1846 near the Yarra Aboriginal Protectorate Station, on land between the Merri Creek and the Yarra River. This early Aboriginal school was supported by the local tribe, the Wurundjeri. Clan leader Billibellary sent his children to the school and encouraged others to do the same.

In a five-room house, boys studied spelling, grammar, arithmetic and carpentry; girls learnt needlework, cooking and other domestic skills. Pupils also grew vegetables and, in an entrepreneurial spirit, constructed a bridge over the creek and collected a toll!

After Billibellary’s death in 1846, student numbers dwindled and the school closed in 1851.

The state school at Ramahyuck Mission, on the shores of Lake Wellington in East Gippsland, was one of the highest-performing schools in Victoria, achieving results of 100 per cent in 1872.

This school has again passed an excellent examination. This is the first case since the present result system has been enforced that 100% of marks has been gained by any school in the Colony. The children, moreover, show not only accuracy in their work, but also exhibit much intelligence – excellent progress is shown.
– Charles Topp, Inspector of Schools for the Education Department.

These results, coupled with similarly good scores from mission schools at Lake Tyers and Lake Condah, encouraged the Board for the Protection of Aborigines to seek to place all mission and government reserve schools under the Board of Education. It took 15 years for this to come to fruition, in 1891.

Pupils in the senior room, Lake Tyers State School, c. 1950.

Early European settlers and missionaries in Victoria believed that the Aboriginal population would benefit from the ‘civilising’ aspect of education and Christian teachings.

This approach often had a negative effect on the people, eroding traditional cultural practices in favour of the disciplinary forces of schooling and religious instruction.

This 1847 sketch map shows the location of the ‘Mission’ or Merri Creek Aboriginal School. The creek crossing and Protector’s quarters are also shown.