A photograph of students outside Drouin State School No. 1924 in 1888 with head teacher Richard Skewes.
In February 1876, Thomas Callanan wrote to the government requesting a school be built to cater for the 25 to 35 children from five families living in the Upper railway camp on the Gippsland line. The address given was Railway Station Reserve, Whiskey Creek.
There was a larger camp of eight families east of Drouin Junction, and it was decided Drouin Junction was the best place as it was central of three camps.
Franklin Jackson of Ferntree Ridge also wrote about his eight unschooled children. In June of the same year, George Wilson wrote "about the dire needs of 50 children within a three-mile radius of the station reserve".
In July 1877, classes commenced in a building purchased and moved to the allotment that had been reserved as a school site. The Drouin school remains on the same site today.
The southwest corner of the block had been cleared and contractor William Dempsey wanted to put the portable building on the cleared land rather than have to clear more. Some townspeople thought this was too close to William Dawes store and public house, and wanted it placed on a more central location on the block.
The building was soon considered unfit. This was due to Dempsey's assembly of the portable school leaving great gaps between the boards making up the lining, and there was only a two-room residence for the head teacher.
In August 1878, a classroom and five-room teachers' residence was built. Richard Skewes was employed as head teacher from July 27, 1887 and lived in this space with his wife, seven children and servant.
Mr Skewes stayed for the next 18 years. His wife Sarah and son Thomas were also teachers at the school between 1883 and 1886.
The initial enrolment of 75 pupils in 1877 grew to over 100 in 1884, despite the space only allowing 73 students to attend. Another classroom building was added in 1885 to accommodate the growing numbers, with a further room added in 1890.
In 1914, a four-room brick building was added. This was destroyed by fire in February 1936. The only portion left standing was the front wall.
As a result, some pupils were accommodated in the Mechanics Institute Hall, and the infant classes held in the Methodist Church Hall.
Photograph and information courtesy of the Drouin History Group.
