Ashwell State School

A committee was set up in June 1884 to obtain a State School for the district known as Lanefield/Ashwell. By August they had collected sufficient money to build a School and Teachers Residence. Mr Walter Loveday and Mr H. M. Stevens both donated one acre of land for the school. In 1886 tenders were called and the tender was awarded to Geo. Schlecht. The school opened on the 7th November 1887. The teacher was John Taylor and there were 56 pupils. By 1892 this had increased to 93 pupils. In 1893 a School Committee was formed between the school and residents in the area. Over the years the committe has supported the school in a number of ways. They have carried out a variety of fundraising activities including social dances and performed working bees. 1938 – members of the school committee replaced decayed stumps at the school residence and enclosed the back verandah. The committee also offered to lay a new floor in the school if the Dept of Public Works sent a qualified man to supervise. In the 1930s Project Clubs were introduced to schools. 1930s – a calf club was begun and a yearly show day was held for the various school project clubs 1940s -1970s – vegetables grown 1943 to 1946 – cotton growing to help the war effort 1950 – linseed trials carried out and records forwarded to CSIRO 1950-1955 – bee keeping 1970s– students grew gladioli and sold the flowers, kept a vegetable plot and bee keeping was reintroduced 1950 – an application was made for electric power for the school. 1962 – 75th Anniversary Celebration held 10th November and three of the original pupils attended. 1987 – Centenary Day celebrated 7th November.