Originally called Maple Point School, the schoolhouse was commissioned by first farm director, Kenneth McKenzie, to provide education for the children of farm employees. This was to be the third school constructed in the colony of Vancouver Island, following Governor James Douglas' call "to give a proper moral and religious training to the children of the settlers who are growing up in ignorance and the utter neglect of all their duties to God and society." The need was judged to be most severe for children of Protestant denomination, as Roman Catholics received (until 1851) "very able and zealous" instruction from a priest from the Society des Oblats. Construction was commenced, using timber milled on the farm, in August 1854 and continued until late February 1855. The first students took classes there in March of the same year, and were charged a fee of between 30 shillings and 1 pound.