Waaia Primary School (School No. 2986; previously known as Baulkamaugh West 1890-c.1892; Waaia State School c.1892-c.1970)

Full description

Located in the Murray Valley area of Northern Victoria, this school officially opened as Baulkamaugh West State School on 28 January 1890. Classes took place in a newly built timber schoolhouse measuring 24ft x 18ft on one acre of land, purchased from J. Moncrieff in approximately 1889.

The name changed to Waaia State School (No. 2986) (VA 3887) by 1900. Another school also known as ‘Waaia’ became Waaia South State School (School No. 1950). 

In 1920 the school building underwent remodeling and repairs, during which time classes were held at the local hall. An additional acre of adjoining land was purchased in 1924 from James Moncrieff and Frederick Jorgenson.

On 12 March 1946, the school closed, and pupils were conveyed to Numurkah (School No. 2134) due to the transfer of the Head Teacher. It re-opened on 6 June 1946. 

A new prefabricated residence was erected in 1952. By this time the school was overcrowded, with an enrolment of 47 and students sitting three per desk. An unused school building from the closed Picola West school (School No. 2558) as well as outbuildings and a shelter pavilion were moved to Waaia the following year.

By 1955 enrollment was 67 and expected to rise. An additional site of 5 acres was purchased for the school, and a two-room timber building was constructed. Both the original and the new sites were then in use, providing four classrooms in total.

In 1962 the two buildings on the original site were condemned. They were demolished the following year, and an additional building was built on the new site. Enrolments fluctuated between 50-90 over the following decade. The name of the school likely changed to Waaia Primary School around 1970, following a state-wide change to naming convention.

In 1993 the school merged with Yalca South (School No. 2198) (VA 3894) to become Waaia Yalca South Primary School (No. 5401). The school was consolidated on the Waaia Primary School site, and the Yalca South site was closed and later sold.