Barabba School

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Government
Also known as:	Barabba Rural School
Street number:	Corner Wood Rd.
Street name:	Barabba .
Street suffix:	Road
Town or locality:	Barabba
Date established:	1875
Ceased operation:	1968
Established by:	State Government
Business or purpose:	Education

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On the 23rd. February 1875 land was set aside for the site of the Barabba School and the area comprised two roods 24 perches.

In 1876 tenders were called for the building of the school room and residence. The school room was completed and open for pupils in April 1877 but the residence was not built until 1885. Until this time the head teacher and his family lived in a small house just north of the Barabba Primitive Methodist Church.

In a speech made by Mr J. Dow at the "Back to Barabba" celebrations in 1945 he states: "The residents applied for a site for a school and they were granted a piece of land of about 1 acre. As it was Government Reserve land at the time, the residents said that they would like to have 5 acres. More land was acquired in October 1876.

When the residents of Barabba applied to have a school they were told they would have to raise 100 pound. This was duly done and 80 pound was forwarded toward the cost of the school house, 16 pound for the cost of fencing and 4 pound for an underground rainwater tank.
The S.A. Government Gazette of October 5th 1876 states that the tender of Hague and Lake for a school-house and residence was accepted"

The school opened in April 1877 but no Admission Register exists prior to 1883 at which time there were 58 children on the roll.

On 14th April 1877 a report from the Council of Education in the Adelaide Observer noted that Alexander Lawson had been transferred from Grace Plains to the school at Barraba.On 9th of June 1877 the newspaper reported that Lawson had been given permission to open a night school at Barraba, indicating a need for education by children employed during the day. On 11th August 1877 the newspaper noted that Eliza Lawson had been appointed as sewing mistress at Barraba School, and Mary Lawson as monitor. But on 24th April 1880 it was reported that the Alexander Lawson's resignation as head teacher had been accepted. He was 53 years of age and not in good health; probably even with the help of his family the work got to be too much for him.

In 1898 Miss Amelia White was appointed to Barabba School as head teacher having been transferred from Watts Range School. She was accompanied by her mother and sister. This began a period of stability as Miss White remained at Barabba School until 1926 when she left the Education Department to marry and live in Western Australia. So ended a remarkable teaching career of 28 years at the Barabba School and involvement in the community.

On October 5th 1901 The Chronicle stated: "On Friday, the 10th annual schools picnic was held at Owen - adjacent to the railway line. The schools participating were Alma South, Alma North, Barabba, Dalkey Hill, Hundred of Dalkey, Owen, Pinery and Salters Springs. About 200 scholars were present and with parents and friends the company numbered 500. A programme of sports for the children was carried out and also elocutionary items and singing competitions."

The combined schools picnic at Owen continued to be a popular event.

In 1903 The Country Correspondence wrote: "On Friday 2nd October people began to put in an appearance at 9.30 am. arriving from all points of the compass on bikes, horseback, spring carts, spring drays, spring vans and vans without springs! Buggies from the most up to date Marnie to the old family wagonette, to say nothing of sulkies and dog carts. The morning train also adding to the visitors. The city Volunteer Band provided music for the occasion."

On December 12th 1913 the first examinations were implemented for the Qualifying Certificate (called the QC) replacing the Class 5 certificate.

This examination was duly replaced by the Progress Certificate in 1944.

On December 12th 1968 notice was received from the Director of Education that approval had been granted for the closing of the Barabba School as from the end of the school term 1968.

Teachers	Date Commenced	Date Departed
Alexander Lawson	1878	1879
Henry Allport	1880	Sept. 30th 1882
John Young	1882	1883
Margaret M. W. Myles	1884	1885
William Phillips	1886	1888
Elizabeth A. Poulton	1889	1892
Carl F.W. Hese	Oct 3rd 1892	May 8th 1898
Amelia White	May 1898	September 6th. 1926
John P. Trainer	Sept 7th 1926	May 15th 1937
Henry L. Jacobs	May 16th 1937	1941
Geoffrey E.H. Glover	1942	Sept 10th 1945
Rex M. Wilson	Sept 11th 1945	1947
Sydney G. McRostie	1948	1955
Alexander J. Millikin	1956	1959
Leon G. Hutchinson	1960	1963
Gwen Loveridge	1964	August 28th 1965
Alec J. Harris	August	December 1965
Gerald W.D. Roberts	1966	1968

Barabba School Honour Roll 1914 - 1918

Smyth, A.M. 
Roberts, W.N. (Died on active service)
Roberts, R.L. 
Coombs,G
Dyer, G.    (Died on active service)
Coombs, A.
Baker, F.J.  (Military Medal)
Smyth, H
Jeffrey, J
Baker, M.S.
Pitkin, N.V.  (Military Medal)
Roberts, H.
Smyth, S.C.
Roberts, H.D.
Wyatt, J.
White, J. 
Smyth, H.L.C.  (Died on active service)
Norgren, E.    (Died on active service)
Hamilton, A.