IN the late 1800s there were three schools serving those in between Bega and Tathra - Jellat Jellat, Bournda North and Wallagoot public schools.
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Jellat Jellat first opened on July 17, 1871.
On this date a 53-year-old widower called Samuel Thicknesse with long teaching experience began instruction in a temporary schoolroom.
This was a slab hut which had a shingled roof, a boarded floor and a good fireplace.
The following parents promised to send their children to the school: Edward Jones, William Freeman, Joshua Sawtell, Daniel Duncan, Malcolm Thompson, Emily Meaker and Richard Johnston.
In March 1872 Inspector Maynard recommended that the school should be reduced in status to a half-time school, and another half-time school be opened at Warragubra on a government reserve on the Bega-Tathra Road with new buildings on both sites.
The new Jellat Jellat site was described as being a little off the main road opposite Russell's farm.
North and South Bournda schools were operating a half-schools in 1896.
In 1888 the local residents agreed to erect a new wooden schoolroom at Bournda North, described as “rough, fairly comfortable and weathertight”.
On September 9, 1896 an inspector visited Bournda South and found there were only five enrolments and the bark school building was in a very bad state of repair.
Bournda North had 23 children so he decided to recommend the closure of Bournda South and the conversion of Bournda North to a full-time school.
Wallagoot Public School opened in October 1884 on the Bega to Tathra Highway.
Nearby were brick works.
No details are known about the school building except that it was a wooden schoolroom with a verandah.
The site was fenced in 1892 when it was brought to the notice of the Department that swagmen and teamsters were camping on the property.
Miss Donovan taught at the school from 1884-1901. She was 42 and her main hobby was gardening.
She cultivated an acre and planted pine trees, shrubs and various kinds of flowers.
By 1905 Wallagoot was a central school and many children were travelling daily to it.
A subsidy was given to Mr Rixon to convey children from Tathra to Wallagoot, seven pence per day per child.
Wallagoot School closed in July 1912 when a new school opened at Tathra.
