A new school at Cooranbong costing 620 pounds opened in 1879, following a petition signed by local residents. Cooranbong, near Lake Macquarie, was known for its timber production in the 1870s, however when the railway bypassed the area in late 1880s, the population dwindled and the new school was threatened with closure.

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In 1831 the Australian Agricultural Company was granted land on the Peel River at Tamworth. The school and church were built by the company at West Tamworth for estate workers and their families.

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A new public school at Bald Hills was built following a petition by the local residents in 1898. (SMH, 14 Oct, 1898). Small schools were sometimes subsidised by the local community, who helped to build the school and find accomodation for the teacher.

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The horse's name was "Monkey". Getting to school could pose problems, particularly in bad weather. Some children had to travel considerable distances to get to school each day.

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Teacher Muriel Kelly and her pupils outside the Scrub School, 20 Km south west of Tenterfield. There are three Kellys, three Petries, two Drurys and a Smith in the class. "It was school picnic day, that's why we were dressed up" wrote Vera Rossington (then a Smith) in the checked dress.

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An arduous task, the horse team belonging to Watty Campbell and Jack Green took took 3 or 4 days to move the school building. Here it is being pulled out of a dry creek bed.

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Some children in isolated areas were schooled at home on the property.

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