Opposite the Frogmore homestead, there once stood a modest slab building — the first school in Brunswick.

Built on land donated by early pioneer David Eedle, the small structure (just 18 feet by 14 feet) was constructed of rough slabs and clay. Miss Eedle, daughter of David, served as its first teacher.

The schoolhouse was much more than just a classroom — it doubled as the district’s only public building until 1894 whenthe Hall was built.

Church services for both Anglican and Congregational congregations were held here. Political meetings, concerts, tea gatherings and weddings took place within its walls.

In 1892, a political luncheon was held in the garden at Frogmore, with an address delivered in this very schoolhouse.

The old schoolhouse was destroyed by a bushfire in 1916. For many residents, it was the place where they had been christened, educated and married — and its loss was deeply felt.

Among the district’s other early educational institutions was the Brunswick State School, established in 1896. Continued growth led the school to its present Vincent Street location in 1966, continuing a legacy of education that dates back to Frogmore over 160 years ago.

Another important early school was the Clifton School, also known as the Clifton Area School. Following a promise of a school for Clifton Agriculture Area settlers, the Clifton family of Alverstoke donated two five-acre blocks at the corner of Clifton and Alverstoke Roads, with one intended for a school and the other for a hall. While only the hall was built, it was used as a school from 1905, with Miss Emily Ker (Emmy) Clifton teaching there from 1911 to 1947.

Meet Emily Eedle

Born in England in 1841, Emily Eedle grew up in a pioneering family that established the Frogmore Estate in Brunswick. She was a teacher at the Old School House at Frogmore between 1867 and 1870, praised for her skill, dedication, and care for her pupils.

Emily went on to become the first headmistress of the Bunbury Girls’ School in 1871, a trailblazer in education at a time when women’s contributions were often undervalued. After retiring due to illness in 1886, she returned to Brunswick, where she remained connected to the community until her passing in 1887.