Having been appointed to Bilambil he travelled to Grafton from where his journey continued by boat to Chatsworth, by coach to Woodburn, by boat to Lismore, by rail to Murwillumbah, by boat to Tumbulgum, by ferry to North Tumbulgum, and then by buggy to Bilambil.1 The school opened as a Provisional School, the opening date probably being 19 September 1898 as in 1900 Inspector William Cornish wrote that Herbert Burgess ‘has been in charge of this Provisional School since 19th Sept. 1898 (2yrs)’.1

Early in the following year, on 16 January 1899, Burgess wrote to his inspector, ‘The School-House ... is, a small building of thin board, as you know. The heat is as a rule, unbearable at Bilambil, and when the children are present it is really injurious to their healths. Two boys were, before the holidays, taken bad in the heat of the School-Room. I was informed that four more pupils are coming, therefore I am writing to you, hoping you will see I am supplied with two more forms, and is possible a verandah, to protect us a little from the overpowering heat of the School-Room. 1

Burgess was supplied with the forms and the 7 ft 6 ins verandah had been completed by the end of May 1899.1

Later that year a pine ceiling and a sash window were added .

Following a petition signed by six parents (John Suter, Frank Kelly, George G. Baker, James Hackett, Peter Christensen and William Goulding) in October 1899, the building was extended by 12 ft in 1900.1