Brief history of Darawank School
 
In the 1860’s settlers took up land in the area on the ‘Conditional Purchase’ Scheme.
Before 1900 all the land had been taken up with most of the better blocks having
river frontages. Sawmills had started at Forster and Failford providing work for the
settlers while they cleared their land and started cream farming. It soon became
necessary to provide a school in the area.

The education department bought the land that is now 31 Manns Rd and put out
tenders to build a schoolhouse near the river, which was the used for the major means
of transport in the area.
The schoolhouse was built in 1891, the only brick building in the area.
It was difficult to keep teachers because of transport difficulties, so a teacher’s
residence was built in 1907.
The teacher’s wife held sewing classes in this residence.
The schoolhouse was built with two huge arched doorways, bricked in, but ready
for future extensions. That never happened.

At one time there were 38 students and 11 more waiting, but by the mid 1920’s
the school was temporarily closed and then re-opened until it was closed for
good in 1958. The education department sold the school and the residence to private
ownership two years later.

For further historical information:
http://greatlakeshistorical.museum.com/darawank.html
 
Or for other information call or email Andrew Payne.