NameTongarra SchoolTypeBuildingSchoolDescriptionA small school operated at William Moles farm Tongarra from the 1870's. The building accommodated some 30 pupils from the surrounding area.
The school was described as ‘not much larger than a sentry box with a floor of earth’ and plans were made for improvements when the Council of Education purchased two acres of land from Mr. B. M. Osborne, and a new school was opened in 1895, built between Tongarra Mine Road and Macquarie Pass on the Illawarra Highway.
By 1900 there were 30 to 40 pupils enrolled including the Thomas children from Clover Hill Macquarie Pass. Their father Harry Thomas was on the school board committee.
Teachers, Miss. Elliott, and Messrs. Miles, Clowes, Hughes, Tindall and Pickup taught there, until the school closed in 1920. (ref. Thomas family tree ‘One Hundred & Thirty Years ’ by Stan Thomas- Green Meadows William A .Bayley), 2005 edition ‘History Notes of Shellharbour City Area, Tongarra Heritage Society Inc. Carole O’Meley.)
Neither school has survived. A residence is built on the site of the 1900 school.