Past pupils of Rocky Hill State School pose on the steps after an official “roll call” (Photo: John Carey)

October 25, 2022

About 100 people turned out at Heritage House in Yarraman recently to watch the official opening of the refurbished Rocky Hill State School building.

The historic building was shifted to its new home in 2019 and since then has undergone repairs and refurbishment under the supervision of local volunteers.

The building, which now also features a disability access ramp, houses a range of historic displays.

It was officially opened by a former pupil, Nanango Show Society president Les Schloss, watched on by Yarraman & District Historical Society president Helene Johnson in period costume.

Helene has been supervising the Rocky Hill project since about 2015.

“It’s been a journey, but we got there!” she admitted.

The one-teacher Rocky Hill State School was originally going to be called Rocky Creek School after its locale, but as there was already a Rocky Creek School near Millmerran, the education authorities decided that as there was a hill nearby, “Rocky Hill” would do.

The school celebrated its silver jubilee in 1949.

Rocky Hill School’s life as an educational facility came to a close in August 1963 when students began attending Nanango or Yarraman State Schools.

Shortly afterwards, the school building was moved to the Yarraman Memorial Recreation Grounds (now known as the Errol Munt Sports Reserve).

It was first located closer to Yarraman Creek but was then shifted to the corner of Emmert and Margaret streets where it stood for many years.

Over time it housed the Yarraman and District Cricket Club, Yarraman Meals on Wheels and the Yarraman Sporting Group before it fell into disuse.

In December 2019, it was shifted with great fanfare to the back of the Heritage House in Yarraman with the assistance of Toowoomba Regional Council.

Several TRC councillors came back on Saturday, October 19, for the official opening.

Footnote: Rocky Hill is just a small rise beside Rocky Creek on the D’Aguilar Highway between Nanango and Yarraman.

Past student Les Schloss, watched on by Yarraman & District Historical Society president Helene Johnson, cuts the opening ribbon (Photo: John Carey)
Members of the Schloss family with a history book of the school … clockwise, from left, Les, Des, Ken and Valerie Vines (nee Schloss) (Photo: John Carey)
Helene Johnson, who rang the school bell during the opening ceremony, with Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan
(Photo: John Carey)
The crowd gathered on the lawns near Heritage House for the official opening, followed by a sausage sizzle
(Photo: John Carey)

* * *

Rocky Hill School Over The Years … 

Then … the Rocky Hill School at Rocky Creek, possibly in 1949
In 2016 … The Rocky Hill School building on the corner of Emmert and Margaret streets alongside the Errol Munt Sports Reserve; negotiations were beginning to see if the building could be shifted to Heritage House
In 2019 … The school building trundles its way up Barr Smith Street with help from Ergon crews who were lifting power lines along the route …
… and then the truck backed its load up the hill behind Heritage House to the building’s new home
And 2022 … the repaired and refurbished school takes pride of place at the Heritage House site (Photo: John Carey)

  

 

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