Historical Plenty Buildings

Plenty State School 4093

 

As the 1920s approached and the school attached to the Sutherland Homes (3660 Meglin Special) became overcrowded, district children had to transfer to Tanck’s Corner (now Yarrambat) or Diamond Creek. Alarmed at the long walks entailed, Mrs Beatrice (Maud) Fineran and other parents campaigned for the establishment of a school in the Plenty area.

The first public record relating to the opening of a school in Plenty is a Department of Education handwritten file note dated 20th September 1921 which records that:

“Mr W.H Everard MLA submits application (from Mrs B.M Fineran) for establishment of a school at Diamond Creek (Plenty).”

The Department responded with a request for ‘representations and the completion of an application form. Mrs Fineran compiled a list of 29 potential pupils and found two acres of land owned by Mr F Bodycoat ). The parents were also trying to secure a two-room cottage (25 feet long and 14 feet wide) also owned by Mr Bodycoat. If this was not successful Mrs Fineran offered her lounge room until a school building was erected. Mr Bodycoat agreed to lease the building to the Department for 13 pounds per annum and the parents were to remove partitions in the building, add office area and clean it up. The Department agreed to this proposal.

The preferred school site appears to have been on the western side of Yan Yean Rd between what is now memorial Drive and Howell Road. This area was later the site of the original Plenty Fire Station. It is understood that the site of the temporary school was also in Yan Yean road but further south. While evidence has not been found to verify the exact location of the temporary school, it is believed to have been at the corner of Yan Yean and Mackelroy Roads.

On 28/01/1922 Mrs Fineran informed the secretary of the Education Department that the out offices were completed, the partition had been removed from the cottage which was now clean and ready for occupation, and the Tenancy form had been signed and returned. She trusted that a teacher had been appointed. Student desks were sent by the head teacher at 209 Eltham North.

Eleven pupils enrolled on the first day, 18th February, and a further 18 began school two days later. The first head teacher in a temporary capacity was Dorothy Downey. Dorothy and her pupils operated in very spartan conditions in ‘a small unlined structure providing shelter but little else’. Ralph Greenhalgh became the first permanent teacher in June 1922. Mr Greenhalgh boarded with Jim Wilson, the father of one of the first pupils of the school.

 At the time discussions were taking place to establish the Plenty school it seems that Mr F Bodycoat owned both properties. In a letter to the Education Department dated 4th December 1922, Mr F W Deumer states that he purchased Mr Bodycoat’s estate at least 6 months earlier. Mr Deumer did not wish to sell a portion of his land to the Education Department.

After much discussion and negotiation, 6 acres of land was purchased by the Department from Mrs Fineran for 25 pounds per acre. A contract was let on 13/04/1923 to build a new school. There were lengthy delays due to the lack of building materials, the want of labour and bad roads.  The new school was finally occupied on 26/02/1924. When Mr Greenhalgh organised the move to the new building in 1924 the children were excited over two amenities provided: tanks for water and a fireplace for heating. The task of resourcing the school appeared to be an arduous one with a formal request need to procure every stick of furniture (and chalk) In February 1924 a request for funds to purchase gardening tools, library books and pictures was turned down. In 1925 separate shelter sheds were in place for boys and girls. The Education Department subsidised the cost on a pound for pound basis.

The attendance remained constant until 1937, when numbers warranted the appointment of a Sewing Mistress.  By 1940 a lady assistant was on the staff, and the inspectors report of that year stated that ‘extra accommodation is a pressing necessity’. A teacher residence was constructed in the 1940s and the pine plantation west of the school was established in 1949 (this was intended to provide an extra source of funding for the school through the sale of timber) But a second room was not added until 1950. The 1950s appear to have been quiet years with a fairly static attendance. However, in 1963 a growing school population brought the addition of an extra classroom, a storeroom, a staffroom and passageways. There were nearly 90 pupils at the school in 1969, taught by three teachers. Plenty Primary School maintained numbers into the 1980s, but by the 1990s numbers had dropped significantly and it was decided by the Kennett Government to close the school at the end of the 1993 school year. Past students and staff of the school were invited to the final celebration of this much-loved school.

Where are we?

Address: Plenty Historic Church

2 – 6 Memorial Drive, Plenty 3090

Phone Number: 03 9435 9117 

Email: plentyhistoricalsociety3090@gmail.com 

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