UPPER BUCKLAND SCHOOL SITE
BUCKLAND JUNCTION ROAD
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Statement of Significance
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UPPER BUCKLAND SCHOOL SITE - History
The auriferous alluvial deposits within the Buckland Valley extended along the river for over 30 kilometres, from the Buckland’s junction with the Ovens River to approximately 8 kilometres above the junction of the East and West branches of the Buckland River (where The Junction settlement was located). The Junction was the Buckland’s main upper commercial centre, and was a run-off point for workings up the West and East branches of the Buckland River. ‘The Flat’ where the school site is located was a small community area directly downstream of the Junction. An early 1868 Surveyors Map indicates that the school, initially opened as a common school was present in 1868 (see Attachment 2). This is further confirmed by Henry Morgans’s diary as in January 1869, he states he was working there at this time building desks and priveys, when he accidently burnt the school building down. Work on rebuilding of the school commenced in December 1869, with the successful tenderer a Mr Grant, who built the school for 40 Pounds. The fitting out of the buildng was undertaken by Henry Morgan in March 1870, which included pine lining of the building’s internal walls to a height of 4.5 feet. A stone chimney was completed for the schoolhouse in August 1870, with stone quarried and carted to the site for this purpose by Henry Morgan, who had won the contract for the construction. Lime was also used in the construction of the stone chimney. The first head teacher was Sarah Slater. Classes were held in a timber schoolhouse, with a 4 roomed house built for the teacher. An advertisement for tender of the chool building was placed in an 1871 newspaper (Ovens and Murray Advertiser, Tuesday 2 May 1871, p. 3). The school became a State School at some stage between 1873 and 1878. The school went through periods of part time operation from 1886 -1903, due to the fluctuation of student numbers in response to mining operations/ population in the Valley. During these periods the teacher would share teaching duties with Miners Right State School (No. 1703), and also the Lower Buckland State School early in the 20th Century. The Upper Buckland School closed in 1918.UPPER BUCKLAND SCHOOL SITE - Interpretation of Site
The site is located on Crown Land on the eastern side of the Buckland River, downstream of the Junction. The school site lies on an elevated flat between the Buckland River and associated sluice workings, and the Old Buckland Road. The site can be delineated by the grove of false Acacia Trees (Robinia pseudoacacia) that are the dominant vegetation across the site. A thick blackberry infestation also occurs over the site, which is likely to obscure surface features. The features present are consistent with the early surveyors maps (see Attachment 2) that shows the school building as the most southern of the buildings, and a second building (which corresponds with the historical account of the school teachers house) also being located in the northern section of the site. The school building location can be identified by a large cut, approximately 8m by 8m. There are also the ruins of a chimney at the site, which has a section of insitu brick foundation. The chimney appears to have been a substantial construction with the chimney measuring approximately 2 metres by 1 metre. Along with brick, there is also evidence that the chimney was constructed of quarried stone and some mortar is also remnant, which is consistent with the historical accounts from Henry Morgan’s diary of his method of chimney construction. From the location of the chimney in relation to the cut, it is evident that the chimney was located on the western side of the long wall of the building. There was also a nail that has been deliberately shaped into a hook at the chimney location, which may have been used to hang something off the fireplace. A mound of earth and rock to the north of the school site is likely to represent the teacher’s house. Both the teachers house and school site have European bulbs (daffodils and snow drops) growing next to the ruins. There is also a sheet of rusted corrugated iron propped against trees, in proximity to the school, and a section of a square riveted tank directly below the school site, in the sluiced section of the bank.
Heritage Inventory Description
UPPER BUCKLAND SCHOOL SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The school site is located between the Old Buckland Road and the eastern bank of the Buckland River in a grove of false acacia trees. The site includes remnants of building foundations, European plants and other relics that delineate the location of the school and teachers quarters, and associated infrastructure.
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