In 1862, a single Board of Education was formed. Denominational schools continued to be funded as Common Schools. Public grammar schools, such as Melbourne Grammar, Scotch College and St Patrick’s, were open only to boys. Education was compulsory: Literacy and numeracy were considered essential for the common good; educated citizens were crucial for effective self-government.

By 1872 the Victoria’s Education Act was introduced. Education was free: This served the public benefit. Education was secular: Religion was regarded as a source of conflict. Schools were to be secular, with no religious instruction. The Act was the first of its kind in the world. Neither Britain nor the United States had a comparable system that took the responsibility of education out of the hands of churches, local groups and private providers. Considerable resources were allocated: fortunately the government’s income, boosted by gold taxes, enabled it to fund this unprecedented level of public education.

With the Education Act 1872, Victoria moved from a situation where schooling was voluntary and costly, to free and compulsory.

Many children with no education now entered, possibly reluctantly, the new school system. Some parents, reliant on the earnings of their children, may also have regretted this change to the law.

Sectarian issues – disagreements between different churches – polarised the community debate on education.

The religious groups were often vehemently opposed to each other, as well as opposing the National Board. The secular requirement in the Act might have arisen from their disagreement, rather than from the Victorian community’s sense of moral purpose or desire for equality.