Since 1848 children have always played a part of life at Cape Otway Lightstation – even today as curious visitors and school groups.
Initially the children of the people working here were home-schooled, until 1881 when the official State school No. 2352 was opened in the Telegraph Station, following a petition signed by those living at the Lightstation.
We the undersigned parents and residents at Cape Otway desire to bring to your notice the number of children at this place, and the disadvantage they labour under in the total absence of provision for their educational requirements. There are at Cape Otway at the present time sixteen children within school ages, besides others under four years of age, who will be fit for instruction in a short time. The distance to the nearest state school at Middleton (Apollo Bay) is sixteen miles…
From 1881 until 1933 various rooms in the Telegraph Station were used to house the school, with the teacher being lodged with the keepers.
The State School was re-opened in the 1960’s to school the 10 children of Keeper Bob Brack and his wife Joan.
