Old Laverton School House

Description

Located beside the Great Beyond, and soon to be part of it, is the old Laverton School House.

By 1900, there were enough children in Laverton to warrant a school. Unfortunately, the number was too small for the Education Department to justify the establishment of a state school.

As a result, the Wesleyan minister Rev. S.R. Rooney opened the first school in his own camp on 14 May 1900 for approximately 14 children.

The Laverton State School officially opened almost a year later in the Wesley Church on 15 April 1901 but closed the following month due to poor attendance.

Thankfully the school later reopened in October as a half time school.

During this time, the community was petitioning the Education Department to erect a school building, which was finally granted in 1906 when an iron and wood one-room school was built.

Over the decades, numerous altercations and additions were made to the school, most importantly the addition of a veranda on the northern side.

The building is currently being used by the Roman Catholic Church.