Finley Public School might be turning 130 this year, but the efforts for it to be establish go back another 11 years.

The first application for a school was lodged on April 20, 1884.

A concerned parent, Alex Erskine, proposed the creation of a provisional school (with students numbering between 12 and 20) set up at Ulupna, near Finley.

It would service the children of six families located within five miles of the proposed school, including Mr Erskine’s children.

In his application, Mr Erskine highlighted a lack of buildings to rent and requested the department support one being built at “bare cost”.

In fact, he said the recently closed school building at John Blair's property (between Finley and Berrigan) could be shifted to a proposed site at no cost to the department.

Inspector Pearson, on receiving the application, recommended the establishment of a half-time school in the Finley township, to be shared with Leniston which was not in operation at the time.

In another letter the same day - May 14, 1884, Inspector Pearson described Finley as it was at that time.

“Finley, at present, boasts of two hotels, a substantial brick hall, Blacksmith's shop, post office and two or three private cottages.”

The influx of people to the area at that time encouraged business firms to open in the district.

The first building on the surveyed site of Finley was erected and opened on July 14, 1893 - the original Tuppal Hotel.

Other buildings followed, including a School of Arts located at 20 Finley St.

It would later prove to be important to the cause of setting up a school in Finley.

About the same time, the Finley Progress Association was negotiating with the Department of Public Instruction to hasten the establishment of a school in Finley itself.

The association was headed by Charles McAllister as president, with William Blair as secretary and JE Moodie as treasurer.

A report in the Berrigan Advocate on January 15, 1894 said “Mr John Donkin (Finley's first storekeeper) was appointed by the Progress Association to collect the names of all children of school age, within a five mile radius, to guarantee the erection of a public school in the township".

The survey yielded 17 names, with five extra children whose parents were prepared to send them if the school was established.

Inspector Pearson outlined his reservations at the expense of erecting a building.

In a letter he mentions the possible use of the furniture of the Lalalty School, which had closed, and also the possibility of renting the local hall for five shillings per week.

But the Department insisted that the space be provided free to educate local children.

As p;lans progressed, Mr Eskine objected to the offer of a half-time school because of the long distances their children would have to travel.

A second proposal, to establish a half-time school at Finley, was made on August 17, 1894.

This included a proposed half-time school at Ulupna.

However, on this occasion, the residents of Ulupna also rejected the idea, preferring instead a full-time school at Finley.

Inspector Pearson decided on the affirmative in a letter written on February 5, 1895.

It read:

“In view of the fact that the School of Arts can be used for school purposes without cost to the Department, I recommend now that a provisional school be at once established at Finley.”

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Monday, 21st June 2027

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