While there has never been a Roman Catholic church in Fyansford,

there has been a Catholic school.

 

This school was situated on "Frogmore" land, about a quarter of a mile in off Merrawarp Road. 

 

Whilst the exact location is not known it is thought to have been about two thirds of the way between Hamilton Highway and the Ceres bridge. Records show that the school was opened in 1849 and it appears to have continued into the early 1870s.  

 

Some of the earliest teachers were: 

McNally, John J.                   1850

Flynn, F. J.                            1851 

Havell, William                      1852

McNally, William                  1.1.1853 – 30.6.1853

Buckley, Daniel J.                1.10.1853 – 31.8.1856

Buckley, Caroline                 1.4.1854 – 31.8.1856 (wife of Daniel)

O'Driscoll, Daniel                 5.9.1856 – 30.9.1856

Kinane, James                     1.1.1857 – 30.9.1857

McSweeney,Terence          1.10.1857 – 31.8.1858

 

For the years 1853 to 1858 the average daily attendance was 26 pupils (17 Boys and 9 Girls). When writing to the District School Board on 7th January, 1856, the Reverend H. J. Parker says,

"The Fyansford school labours under a great disadvantage of not being in a central position. Many children

having to come over three miles. Mr. Buckley (Head Teacher) has at great inconvenience to himself

accommodated in his small cottage some of the younger children who could not walk so far". 

 

On 6th July, 1857, payment of the sum of thirty pounds was made to the sewing mistress. 

 

On 7th June, 1858, inspector Miller of Roman Catholic schools in Geelong district wrote, Fyansford school - wood and shingled - area 336 - in bad condition - a miserable erection. 

 

Copies of school rolls have not been retained but it is known that Frances Belperroud - (Later Mrs. Rudolf Gugger), Jack Mc Carthy and Jack Lamb were among the pupils.

 

William McNally was the teacher at this school in the 1850’s. In his younger days McNally had been a despatch rider on the Duke of Wellington’s staff at Waterloo. This entitled him to a quarterly remittance from England and he would don his uniform, show the pupils his sword, commission and medals and tell them of the battle of Waterloo. More often, however, a heavy hangover would force him to send the pupils home. Possibly this behaviour was the reason that he was in charge of the school for only 6 months in 1853. 

 

No traces of this school building now remain.