First High School in Central Western Queensland
In 1909 Barcaldine became the first western town to have a high school.
It was established by H. Arthur McKail, a man proud of his association with Geelong Grammar and possessed by a dream of developing his own academic institution on similar lines. He worked as tutor to the children of A. M. Ferguson of Westbourne while he assessed the possibilities of Barcaldine for his experiment.
On February 8, 1909 he opened Barcaldine High School in the Church of England parish hall and set up ‘Craignish’ (a home built by the Francis family in 1887 and later purchased by William Campbell of the Western Champion) as a boarding establishment on the corner of Maple and Yew Streets.
Mr H Allan McKail, after conducting the High School here for the past five years with unsatisfactory and discouraging results, having decided to discontinue the seminary this year, disposed of all his furniture and effects at 'Craignish' last week.
McKail accepted both boys and girls as students, declared his school non-denominational and sought to provide education in scholarly subjects like Latin, Conversational French, English Grammar, Music and Mathematics. There were optional scripture lessons by Rev. Hulton Sams of ‘fighting parson’ fame.
Unfortunately, McKail’s ambition appeared to be hampered by a predilection for alcohol.
For a time his school did reasonably well. Boarders increased from one in 1909 to eight in 1911. By then he employed five teachers and added commercial subjects to his curriculum.
A hint of trouble was given in his second speech day address as he announced that he intended to run the school for a ‘five year trial’.
By 1914 the school had closed and Mr McKail had left town.
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