The total amount given in aid of what might be termed Denominational Schools, in Port Phillip, from 1837 to 1st July 1851, was £12,835.
The National System
Was commenced in New South Wales in 1848, when a Board was appointed, and Mr. G. W. Rusden was despatched as an agent to Port Phillip, in October, 1849. The object of the Board was stated to be principally to confer education where none had hitherto existed. Thirteen local committees were formed, and the first National School founded in the province was in August, 1850, at Pascoe Vale, near Melbourne, where a sum of £200 was raised by voluntary subscription, to which the Government added an equal amount. In 1851 Messrs. J. F. Palmer (Chairman), C. H. Ebden, Wm. Westgarth, H. C. E. Childers, and T. H. Power, were appointed a Board of Management, and subsequently Mr. Childers was for some time Secretary. In 1850 the number of schools was 7, with 151 male and 134 female scholars, whilst in 1851 the schools were diminished by one, and the pupils to 138 boys and 123 girls.
The census returns of 2nd March, 1851, give the population of Port Phillip as 77,345 souls, i.e., males, 46,202; females, 31,143; and their educational condition is thus set forth:—
| UNDER 21 YEARS. | ABOVE 21 YEARS. | |||||
| Males. | Females. | Males. | Females. | |||
| Cannot read | 8915 | 8434 | Cannot read | 3140 | 1668 | |
| Read only | 3183 | 3396 | Read only | 2777 | 2201 | |
| Read and write | 5529 | 5340 | Read and write | 22,658 | 10,104 | |
