James Bassett School-National Trust

The Bassett Boys' Schoolroom is a State Heritage listed single-gabled schoolroom built of local freestone and roofed and floored with local slate, dating from 1862. When it opened it was reported to be "an ornament to the east end of town". James Bassett taught here with great distinction until his untimely death in 1875. His second wife Mary continued to run Bassett School and Buckland House until her death in 1889. During the 1890s the Schoolroom became a Church of England School, then passed to the District Council of Willunga in 1896, serving as Council Chamber and meeting room until 1962. After further use as a Council depot and library storage area, it was leased to the Willunga National Trust and underwent major restoration in 1988. The Wirra Creek Community Garden, operated on organic and biodynamic principles, can be found behind the Schoolroom.