Tully State School

The impressive brick school in Tully dates to 1937, when it was constructed as the Tully Rural School. In the early 1930s, it was decided a Rural School was needed to provide vocational education in the upper grades. Boys were taught manual arts, agriculture and farm management and girls taught home management and needlework. A Rural School was a status symbol for a community. The school building was completed in November 1934, but was burnt down the following year. After the fire, a new substantial brick building was designed by the Department of Public Works. It was built under the relief works scheme, designed to provide employment during the Great Depression, and completed in 1937. The Tully Rural School program was expanded to include a forestry plot, annual school ground plantings, poultry raising, and garden rock walling; all undertaken by students. During WWII, student project clubs raised funds for the Red Cross and made clothing for the children of Britain. Memorial gates were erected after the war, commemorating past pupils and teachers who served. It remained the Tully Rural School until 1964 when a high school was built. Today, the Tully State School educates students from prep to year six.