One in All in

'History of Hesse School'

The Inverleigh Historical Society calendar image for October 2021 is of the schoolchildren at Hesse school c.1895. For those who have not ventured westwards on the Hamilton Highway towards Mortlake, Hesse (pop. 19) is the location adjacent to Barunah Plains gateway and the Warrambine Creek, about 15km from Inverleigh. It is helpful to establish the pronunciation of this locality Hesse – as in “less” or “mess”, not “hessie” or “messy” as in the Winchelsea pronunciation of Hesse Street. It is thought to be named after George B.L. Hesse, a lawyer, who in 1837 accompanied Joseph Tice Gellibrand, on an exploratory ride supposedly from Geelong along the Barwon River to the Leigh River. Intending to travel upstream on the Leigh until branching back towards what is now called Werribee, apparently, they missed the confluence of the rivers travelling further south along the Barwon to the foothills of the Otway Rangers, never to be seen again. Gold Reef & Silver Tussock by Gladys Seaton, a history of the former Leigh Shire, gives the following information about Hesse school photograph. Back L-R W. Nelson (Snr), William Nelson, Peter Bath, Herbert Galloway, Stewart Nelson, William Robertson, Albert Bath. Front: Samuel Bath, Walter Bath, Arthur Nelson, Annie Bath, Alice Nelson, Nellie Galloway, Agnes Robertson. Teacher – Mr. Daley. Agnes Robertson will be remembered by older residents as ‘Gran Bath’ who lived in the area for 102 years.

A school was founded at Barunah Plains as early as 1858, and rural school #70 existed in 1870 with 21 enrolments and was located along the Barunah Plains driveway. In 1874 State School #1376 was established with 35 children, moving to half time with Warrambine in 1876. By 1882 Barunah Plains was again full time, but soon to be shared with Winchelsea Plains (later called Mirnee). This school was closed in 1910 A “new” school opened in 1923 at “Baileys Corner” and the usual fluctuating numbers resulted in half time with Murgheboluc (IHS suspect this was Murderduke school not Murgheboluc) in 1933 and closure in 1934. The building was later removed but some stories of the past are still family folklore. The ice on the puddles being irresistible to young students who then sat all day with wet boots and later chilblains; boys cutting up the teachers strap and putting it in the dunny; three pupils riding the horse bareback several miles to school while one lad saved all his money for a bicycle for quicker travel than his sister who walked; a Christmas party by the school children which concluded at 2am. The recent series of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ by Warner Bros and shown on SBS, an episode featured Grant Denyer. His ancestors Willian & Anne Ross and their children escaped persecution in Scotland to live quietly at Barunah Plains for 20 years, with daughters marrying and living in Inverleigh. The family then followed other local families (Wishart, Peel and Hamilton) to the Kerang district. Information from Gold Reef & Silver Tussock, Gateway to the West, Trove The Inverleigh Historical Society calendar for 2022 will soon be available. Liz McDonald