MIRAM EAST SCHOOL SCHOOL SITE
MIRAM EAST ROAD MIRAM, WEST WIMMERA SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
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MIRAM EAST SCHOOL SCHOOL SITE - History
On the 30 May 1911, W. Alexander became the owner of SPI 1/LP63154 (see parish map attached). The Miram East School was opened in February 1936 on land owned by Arthur Alexander, who was also the secretary and treasurer of the Miram East School (see ‘Part 1', 'Part 2', 'Part 3' and 'Part 4' attachments). In 1937, it was noted that Mr R. Dyer was the chairman of the School Committee and Mr Gribbin was the headmaster (Border Chronicle, 24 December 1937, p. 9). Records indicate that access to water was an issue with the school from its earliest days, and an 800 gallon tank and stand were constructed shortly after (PROV VPRS 795/P0000, 4539). Discussions with the West Wimmera Shire Council confirmed that Arthur Alexander built the school and leased it to the Victorian Education Department, which is confirmed by documents held by the Public Record Office Victoria (PROV VPRS 795/P0000, 4539), and it operated for 16 years until closing in 1952. The tank and tank stand were purchased by AS Alexander in 1954 and were removed from the site. It was also noted that the school buildings had been dismantled by 1954. The Miram East School was not located on any historical parish maps.MIRAM EAST SCHOOL SCHOOL SITE - Interpretation of Site
On 30 May 1911, W Alexander became the sole proprietor of SPI 1LP63154. In February 1936, Arthur Alexander leased the land to the Victorian Education Department, who constructed a small school which opened the same year under the name Miram East. In December 1952 the school closed. Historical letters and telegrams from 1954 indicate that there was a tank stand and a tank on site, “supplied by the Department for school purposes” (PROV VPRS 795-P0000, 4539). The school building had mudbrick walls, a cement floor, and a paper ceiling, measuring 18 metres long and 12 metres wide. The tank and its stand were purchased after the school closed and were removed from the site, while the building was dismantled shortly afterwards. The only evidence showing the location of the school is a cracked concrete slab and a nearby circular feature assumed to relate to the former location of the tank. The history of the site is linked with its use as a school, and any archaeological evidence is likely to relate to educational activies and the day-to-day function of the school. The site is currently used for private agricultural cropping. As such, agricultural activities such as grazing and ploughing may have impacted any historical archaeological deposits which may be present.
Heritage Inventory Description
MIRAM EAST SCHOOL SCHOOL SITE - Heritage Inventory Description
The site of the Miram East School contains a memorial plaque indicating the approximate location of the Miram East School (No. 4539). The site also contains a concrete slab measuring approximately 4 metres in length and 3 metres in width. The concrete slab was cracked in many places. This slab is located 3.4 metres to the north of the memorial plaque. The plaque indicated that the Miram East School opened in February 1936 and closed in December 1952. A circular mark in the ground was also noted approximately 19.6 metres to the north-west of the concrete slab. This measured 1 metre in diameter and may indicate the former location of a water tank associated with the school building. A small piece of terracotta was identified 13 metres to the north of the ring-shaped structure. This piece of terracotta had no markings. The site is located within a heavily disturbed paddock, with evidence of the surrounding land being grazed. Access to the site was difficult, as it was fenced off and lies on private property in a cultivated field. However, the memorial plaque was present adjacent to the road corridor and is indicated by a brown tourist attraction road sign.
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FINCHAM AND HOBDAY PIPE ORGANVictorian Heritage Register H2450
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STATE GOVERNMENT OFFICES, GEELONGVictorian Heritage Register H2451
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NORTH MELBOURNE POTTERYVictorian Heritage Inventory
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