The original Wissanger school (named after Septimane Herbert's home 'Wissanger') was a brick building, built in 1857. Robert Norman donated the bricks and Septimane Herbert donated the land. The school opened in August 1857 with Mrs Donnan as the teacher and 45 pupils. The number of pupils rapidly increased and by 1864 the school building was already becoming too small.

Over the next few years there were continuous calls for a new, larger school and in 1875 a new stone school was finally built. There was a grand opening with musical and literary entertainment, and the Register newspaper reported that the 'schoolhouse is 42 feet long, 24 feet wide, lofty in proportion, and at least 300 persons were accommodated at the opening'. The cost of the building was £429.11s. The old schoolhouse was used for a time as the teacher's residence but was finally demolished.