Carmel Here are a few bits that I could find. Kathy From Mitta Mitta from the Early Pioneer Days by S.A.Colquhoun There is a picture of him in this book. If you would like me to scan it could you contact me directly Kmyles@alphalink.com.au p.55 The State School No.887, Mitta Mitta (formerly known as Snowy Creek) was opened on the 1st October, 1869, with Mr Thomas J. Murray as head teacher.Prior to this Mrs. Agnes Rigney conducted a private school on the site where the Pendergasts now live. It was in this classroom that Mr Murray commenced as teacher for the Education Department, but the school was later transferred into a front room of a residence next door which had been built and occupied by alexander Moncrieff. p.56 Mitta Mitta State School Teachers Mr Thomas J. Murray was appointed Head Teacher by the Education Department in 1869 and was assisted with the teaching by his wife. p81 Head Teachers Mitta Mitta State School No.887for the Century 1869-1969. Thomas J. Murray - 1869-74 Old Tallangatta a Town to Remember by Malcolm Ronan p.243-245 MURRAY Mr. Thomas J. Murray was the first certificated teacher in Tallangatta. He was born in 1832 in Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland. At first employed as a teacher, he was attracted by tales of gold and emigrated to Victoria on the Great Britain in 1858. He began teaching again in the Kilmore area, and afterwards in Yackandandah abd Rutherglen, where he joined the diggings for a couple of years. He married in 1864. He then had charge of the Mitta school for five years, and then the Tallangatta State school for seven years, after which a year in Towong school led to an accident and a government pension in 1880. As headmaster at Tallangatta he was also postmaster and town clerk. On the Yabba Road in 1874, he selected a property known as Glendave. In 1893 he acquired the Victoria Hotel property, leased out Glendave and retired to live in Tallangatta, where he was active in public movements for nearly 30 years, and a well known figure about town, if thought a bit rough and parsimonious. He was a 'droll raconteur', entaining with tales of the past, such as his efforts travelling through flood and field to reach his appointed bush school Jericho, only to find that there were two places called Jericho and he, of course, had reached the wrong one. His agitations were largely reponsible for getting the butter factory in Tallangatta, a great fillip to district properity. He was active in the Cemetery Trust, the Council and the Catholic Church. When he died in 1918 he left a widow, one son and five daughters, including Mrs Culbertson, Wodonga, Mrs Moylan, Tallangatta. Mrs Overend of Mitta was another daughter. (Documentary Sources) p.10 1870...Tallangatta Rural School No. R82 was established in 1870, under Mr Thomas J. Murray, who founded the Junction Snowy Creek school before taking the post at Tallangatta. He lived on his own selection at Tallangatta, later Glendave. The school-room was of unlined weatherboard with a shingle roof, propped up with poles. It contained one long desk. p.15 1875...The First Cemetery Minutes of a public meeting held at Dyring's Hotel, Tallangatta, 2nd October, 1875, with George Wilkinson in the chair. 1. Mr T.J. Murray proposed, Mr G.Moscrop seconded, that truastees for a cemetery be nominated, "whose names are to be submitted to the government and whose duties will be to secure a site and arrange any other business connected with same." - Carried unanimously. p.21 1881...Mr T.J. Murray retired as head teacher in 1881 and became hotel licensee and active townsman... Mr T.J. Murray was replaced as head teacher by Mr J. McCarthy. p.29 1885...A further quarter-mile brings one to Glendave House, the property of Mr T.J. Murray. (Brought later by Bowran's then later by Mr E. Ried.) p.33 1888...A committee of Catholic citizens chaired by T.J. Murray met in the Court-house in 1888 to take action to secure an allotment for a proper church building. ...Crown Lands lying on the flats below the Shire Hall which had been surveyed into streets, were auctioned on 19 Sept, 1888...Purchasers included...T.J. Murray p.36 Other notes on the 1880s... Mr T.J. Murray of Glendave on the same road was taking a trip to his native "sod", Ireland, on the R.M.S. Oceana, and would be away for nine months. He was given a resounding farewell. p.52 Church-building...1898. On Sunday 13 February...The Rev. Fr. O'Connor publicly thanked Mr T.J. Murray, through whose business capacity the church site had been obtained for £3 or £8 (illegible). p.56-7 1897...Four candidates stood formTallangatta: Thomas J. Murray, Charles Croot, George Wilkinson and William Hawley, the first 3 being elected. p.131 1927...Glendave House, with 9 rooms, a feature of Yabba Road near Golden Square since the days of Mr T.J. Murray, and now owned by Mr Ernie Ried, was burnt to the ground. p.141 1931...Wm.(Ried) died at Glendave, the property which had once belonged to his old friend thomas J. Murray, the teacher at the school when W. first arrived ibn 1880. p.171 1947...Glendave, the property at Golden Square once owned by Thomas J. Murray, was farmed by Les Bowran until his death in 1947 at 31...Glendave was then brought by Ernest Ried. Bush Schools and Scholars A History of the One Teacher Schools in the Upper Murray 1872-1974 by Betty Lebner p.8 Towong State School No. 2380 ...The official opening of the school took place on 1st June 1881, Thomas J. Murray was Head Teacher and 20 pupils attended. during early October 1882, Thomas Murray advised the E.D. by letter that his horse had fallen on him and he had received crushing injuries. It took 4 days to convey him to Albury. He enclosed a certificate from Dr James Campbell and Dr duncan, M.B. and asked if he could be relieved from duties for at least 3 months. (Note: My grandmother and 3 of her siblings were among those 20 pupils and in fact I have 3 of her school books that she used at the Towong school).