…pupils from the surrounding district attending the school came from areas now covered by both the Doreen and Arthurs Creek primary schools…
The site of the first school in the Hazel Glen district is marked by two pine trees―one living, one now dead, on a rise to the south of Chapel Lane, about half way between ‘Linton Grange’ homestead and Middle Hut Road. The original schoolroom was built on three acres of land donated by William Reid of ‘Hazel Glen’, ‘some time before 1867’.
Pupils from the surrounding district attending the school came from areas now covered by both the Doreen and Arthurs Creek primary schools.
In 1867 the Hazelglen school committee comprised Brian Abbey, Robert Airey, Richard Bassett, Charles Draper, Flavius E. Kingsford, Joseph Lobb, Owen McDonald, Patrick Reid junior and William Reid. Angus Smith formerly of ‘Glen Ard’ station was the teacher and his wife Barbara the sewing mistress. The Hazelglen-Doreen school became Common School no. 945 on 1 July 1868.
The original committee formed in 1870 to establish the Arthurs Creek school comprised P. Brennan, Pat Green, George Grey, M. Lodge, D. McPhee and John Ryder. The school was eventually built on two acres of land purchased from John Ryder in 1875. Arthurs Creek State School no. 1666 opened on 17 January 1876 with Mrs. Marion Hillier as head teacher. Some of the pupils at the Hazelglen school, including my grandfather Jim Draper, transferred to the new school at Arthurs Creek.
The old Hazelglen school was replaced by a portable classroom in 1884. In 1895, the Hazelglen school was relocated to a new site, on an acre of land purchased from Patrick Hickey in Doctors Gully Road. The school ground was enlarged by the purchase of an additional acre of land in 1906.
Since 1870 the post office had occupied one room of the school residence. In May 1895 the post office was re-named Doreen to avoid confusion with the address of the Reid family property, Hazel Glen. The post office was transferred from the school to the Doreen Store in 1902. The name of the school was officially changed from Hazelglen to Doreen in 1923.
I was interested to read this article about the Hazelglen school as it mentions my great great grandfather, Brian Abbey. Another of your articles mentioned Brian was also involved with the Wesleyan church in the area.
Do you know if there are any further records of Brian and his family in the area? It would be great if they were available.
Thank you for the articles.
Hi Sandra
Thank you for your message. For further information about your great great grandfather you may like to try some of the sites listed here:
http://www.upthecreekvictoria.com.au/tools-for-the-researcher/
The Yarra Plenty Regional Library is a great place to start as the Local and Family History Librarian Liz Pidgeon has expert knowledge of local resources and collections, including Historical Societies that have detailed archives.
Thanks for getting in touch.