Moulyinning School

Author

Shire of Dumbleyung

Place Number

13723

Location

McKenzie St Moulyinning

Location Details

Local Government

Dumbleyung

Region

Wheatbelt

Construction Date

Constructed from 1914

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type Status Date Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type Status Date Grading/Management
Category
Municipal Inventory Adopted 17 Oct 2002 Category B

Statement of Significance

The Moulyinning School has aesthetic, historic, representative, social and rarity cultural heritage significance. The school has some aesthetic appeal as it is a most unusually, uncommon proportioned building. Some former pupils reminisced about attending 'high' school in Moulyinning. The former school has considerable historic value as it has links to Nippering townsite as well as servicing the Moulyinning community for four decades as a school and then for another 20 years as a Church Hall. The school is a good representative of one teacher schools, which were an important part of small rural communities throughout WA before the introduction of school buses.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include: • Located on a bush block close to the Moulyinning Hall • Distinctive design - building is tall in proportion to its floor dimensions • Timber construction, approx 9m x 5m • Raised on stumps • Wide brick section on south western corner • Open sided verandah on north eastern corner • Corrugated iron roof • Tall brick chimney

History

The Moulyinning School building was moved from the Nippering School site. It is a timber structure 9m x 5m, raised on stumps. The Nippering School closed cl912 owing to a decline in children attending the school. The Moulyinning School was opened on 2 December 1914 with thirteen students. It was active between 1914-1958, despite being closed for a period in 1923 owing to a shortage of teachers. Despite the efforts of many parents to keep the school open, it was closed late in 1958. Moulyinning School was one of the last one-teacher schools to close down and send its pupils to the Dumbleyung School. The introduction of school buses in 1943 led to the closing of many one teacher schools throughout WA. Moulyinning managed to hold out against the trend for several years despite a fairly small population (the average daily attendance recorded in 1957 was 12.1 pupils). The school is one of those featured in the Shire of Dumbleyung Historic Schools Heritage Trail. Soon after the closing of the school, the Anglican Church purchased the school from the Education Department for £50. After redecoration and suitable refurbishment, the building was consecrated by Bishop Reading of Bunbury, as the St Matthew's Church Hall. Though no weddings were held there three baptisms were performed. The church discontinued services in 1978 and the parishioners began attending the Anglican services at Kukerin. The former school and church hall now (2001) stands disused.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High Degree

Condition

Fair

References

Ref ID No Ref Name Ref Source Ref Date
J Timperley; "Beyond the Fence: A History of Kukerin, Moluyinning and Nearby Communities". 1996
O'Brien Planning Consultants; "Municipal Heritage Inventory". Shire of Dumbleyung 1998

Place Type

Individual Building or Group

Uses

Epoch General Specific
Present Use VACANT\UNUSED Vacant\Unused
Original Use EDUCATIONAL Combined School

Construction Materials

Type General Specific
Roof METAL Corrugated Iron
Other BRICK Common Brick
Wall TIMBER Other Timber

Creation Date

23 Sep 2002

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

01 Jan 2017

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.