Historic Mallee School Trail

Approximate Kilometres to School Sites

Esperance to Griggs Road, just past Scadden, 50.5Km
From Highway to Lake Echo School, 15.4 Km each way
(Optional route;past school to Lake Echo, then to Scadden) [4×4 Recommended]
From Griggs Road, Scadden to Truslove, 12.8 Km
Truslove to Grass Patch 13.2.km
Grass Patch to Rich meadow 11.2 Km
(Optional route: 15.1 Km to Red Lake) [4×4 Recommended]
Or return to Grass Patch then to Red Lake, approx 22Km.
from Red Lake to Circle Valley 23.2 Km
from Circle Valley to East Dowak 28.7 Km
from East Dowak to Kumarl 28.7 Km
Kumarl back to main road 12.2 Km
Main Road to Salmon Gums, 25.5 Km.

These figures are an estimate only to give an idea of distance.

Visit the Historic Mallee School Trail Sites

Mallee School Trail length, from Scaddan to Kumarl, approximately 166 km.

West Scadden (Lake Echo) School 1934 -1949

Scadden was known as the 30 mile named after Premier Hon. John Scadden (1911-1916) on 13th February 1924.

The Mallee school trial begins at this location. Coolgardie – Esperance highway passing Scadden town site turn left at Grigg road (bitumen) travel west to North Dalyup road, turn left and proceed to heritage sign and Scadden West School site. Sometimes called Lake Echo School.

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WEST SCADDEN SCHOOL BICENTENARY MONUMENT

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WEST SCADDEN SCHOOL BICENTENARY PLAQUE

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WEST SCADDEN SCHOOL SITE SIGN

Truslove School (1932 – 1941)

Heading north travel to Truslove where there is a truck bay on the highway to pull into, on your left: where some cacti are. A pointer sign will show you where the school was, a depression on the ground is where the children wore a trench running around the school.

Some foundation stumps and miscellaneous pieces of iron are all that now remains at the Truslove school site.

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TRUSLOVE SCHOOL MONUMENT AND SIGN

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TRUSLOVE SCHOOL SITE BICENTENARY MONUMENT PLAQUE

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TRUSLOVE HALL SITE SIGN (DAMAGED)

Grass Patch School 1927- 1934 (1966 to present time)

You will see a sign for the school just before you get to the town site.

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GRASS PATCH SCHOOL DIRECTIONAL SIGN

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GRASS PATCH SCHOOL CENTENARY MONUMENT

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GRASS PATCH SCHOOL 1927-1934 SIGN

Rich Meadows School 1927 -1942

Rich Meadows school, continuing up Coolgardie –Esperance highway, turn right (Sign posted) at Tom Starcevich road, to sign at school. There may be some wild flowers. The foundation concrete slabs of the toilets still remain, with the girls on the south side of the building, and the boys on the north side of the building. Some foundation stumps, broken crockery and other miscellaneous items, and the fireplace are still visible. A large mound is located where the school house once stood.

After this site you may like to look at some of the farming are, if so, follow on to Logan’s Road turning left and back to the highway at Red Lake. This takes you back to the Coolgardie-Esperance highway.

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RICH MEADOWS SCHOOL BICENTENARY MONUMENT

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RICH MEADOWS SCHOOL BICENTENARY MONUMENT PLAQUE

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RICH MEADOWS SCHOOL1927-1942 SIGN

Red Lakes Schools 1927-1945

The Spargo site is now private property, and cannot be accessed by road.

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RED LAKE DIRECTIONAL SIGN

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RED LAKE SCHOOL BICENTENARY MONUMENT PLAQUE

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RED LAKE SCHOOL 1937-1945 SIGN

Circle Valley School 1928-1946

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CIRCLE VALLEY SCHOOL DIRECTIONAL SIGN

East Circle Valley Primary School 1928-1946

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EAST CIRCLE VALLEY PRIMARY BICENENTARY MONUMENT PLAQUE

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EAST CIRCLE VALLEY 1928-1946 SIGN

The Salmon Gums Schools (1926-1972)

The First Salmon Gums School 1926 – 1972 Building

The First Salmon Gums School 1926 – 1972 – (Presently the Village Sheep Shop – Museum Park Esperance)

The First Salmon Gums School 1926 – 1972
The Second Salmon Gums School 1954 – 1972 – Bristol prefabricated building

Present Salmon Gums School

Third Salmon Gums School – opened in 1972 – and exists as an operational school and school grounds.

East Dowak Primary School (1930-1931)

The school site is located on private property; sigh posted and can be seen.
The school was opened for only one year.

Due to the persuasiveness of a local farmer, a small school was opened at East Dowak on the 3rd of June, 1930. Students were drawn from local farming families, Swann, Clarke, Haywood and Fagan.

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EAST DOWAK SCHOOL DIRECTIONAL SIGN

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EAST DOWAK PRIMARY SITE BICENTENARY MONUMENT PLAQUE

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EAST DOWAK PRIMARY 1930-1931 SIGN

Kumarl School Site (1932-1941)

Remains that are visible at the Kumarl school site include garden plots marked out in white limestone rocks, and the fireplace. The site where the school house once stood is now a thick stand of trees.

The school building was transferred to Widgiemooltha in 1946, and served there for 29 years before being destroyed by fire on the 7th April, 1975.

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