Ross State School was a cornerstone of education in the Ross district, operating from 1847 until its closure in 1999. The journey began in 1843 when the people of Ross petitioned Governor Franklin for a public school. By 1847, the Anglican Church established a day school, later taken over by the Board of Education around 1853. The school served children from all walks of life—convicts, farmworkers, shopkeepers, and tradesmen—providing opportunities for those who could not afford private education.
In the early years, Ross State School was the primary educational institution for the district’s children, with some also attending smaller schools like Mona Vale and Auburn. Education at Ross State School offered a significant chance for children in an era when many adults could neither read nor write.
One of the school’s significant milestones was the construction of a dedicated building in 1877 after thirty years of using the St. John’s Church Sunday School building. The new freestone structure, built by 29-year-old William Inall of Launceston, was described by a local correspondent in The Weekly Examiner as “lofty, well-ventilated, well finished within and without” and able to accommodate about 80 children. The opening was celebrated with typical Ross flair—a public tea meeting featuring “pyramids of flowers, fruit, massive iced cakes, and other delicacies,” along with music, recitations, and readings.
Over the years, the building saw modifications, including extensions in 1916 by local stonemason Edward Richards. By then, the building was considered “very poorly designed for lighting” and in need of improvement, reflecting the community’s growth and changing expectations. Despite debates and concerns, Ross School children by the 1880s were offered a ‘liberal’ education, intended to make them informed citizens, able to participate in the town’s cultural and social life.
By the 20th century, children of wool growers learned alongside town children at Ross Primary School. However, secondary education was a different story. High schools were established in Hobart and Launceston only in 1913, and private high schools were out of reach for most families. Until Campbell Town developed its area school in 1947, secondary education was largely inaccessible to Ross children and many others in rural Tasmania.
Despite its importance, Ross Primary School faced declining enrolments as the population of Ross decreased. Enrolments dropped from 106 in 1859 to just 24 in 1999. After a decade-long struggle to keep it open, Ross Primary School was closed in 1999, marking the end of an era. The school’s history reflects the broader educational developments in Tasmania, from early debates over education for the poor to the evolution of comprehensive and district schools.
The legacy of Ross Primary School remains a significant part of the town’s heritage, representing over 150 years of educational history in the community.
Ross School c1916. Image reproduced courtesy of Jan Harvey.
Ross State School No. 3 Main Class Room 1928, by S. Spurling.
Ross State School No. 4 Infant Room 1928, by S. Spurling.