In February 1890 a petition signed by members of the Kelly, Gallagher, Smith, McLachlan and Robinson families was sent to the Under Secretary for Public Instruction requesting a school be opened at Furracabad, seven miles south of Glen Innes on the west bank of the Furracabad creek.

The department agreed to a Provisional School.

Dating from 1867 these were elementary schools, where at least 15 children but fewer than 25 could be expected to attend, and their parents were to provide the building and furniture. 

However, after 1882 there were provisions for the department to provide all or part of the cost of the building, although it is known that even into the 20th century parents often met a lot of the cost, and the minimum number was reduced to 12.

The Provisional School teacher was usually untrained or of the lowest classification.

Dame Brigid Ogilvie, a distinguished parasitologist with an international reputation, praised her little bush school for the grounding she received there 

Mrs Phyllis Bouveret, a former student wrote in the December 1997 issue of The Land of the Beardies Bulletin Vol 24 No.3 … “As early as 1923 a conveyance, drawn by two horses, brought some of the children to school along the main road.

“Other children walked, rode a horse or came in sulkies and later, bicycles.

“There was a small paddock at the back of the school for horses.

“One morning every week one of the Glen Innes clergy would give a scripture lesson.

“Every school day started with reciting a psalm, usually Psalm 23, and at the end of the day we would all stand and sing Now the Day is over.

“The school closed on 25 June 1958.

“The school building was sold and converted into a shed, which is now at the southern end of Grey Street. The residence was rented for a few years and was later sold and transferred to Pinkett…”

By 2010 only a few pine trees marked the spot.

(The shield is on display in the museum)