Red Jacket, circa 1900, showing the State School in the background, on the hill, and O’Keefe’s Jordan Hotel in the foreground. In 1866 Michael O’Keefe obtained a publican’s licence for the Jordan Hotel, which was to continue to operate until after the death of his wife Anne in 1913. The Post Office had opened a branch in April, 1865, J. Campbell being the incumbent postmaster until 1871. During the years 1871 to 1872, Michael O’Keefe held the position, and Post Office business was conducted from the hotel, a practice common to many of the mining towns. The first school at Red Jacket was set up by Father Patrick Courtenay in the early 1860s. It was never recognised by the Board of Education, and had closed by 1870. In December 1873, Red Jacket No SS1216 was opened with Patrick Cunningham as the first teacher. The existing school house was church property, and the first classes were held in the house of Patrick Buckley. The opening enrolment was thirty-seven children. A school building was erected in 1875. From 1892 to 1902 children from Jericho walked to Red Jacket to school; in 1900 the position was reversed, and pupils were sent to Jerichl for lessons. Reference; Owen F. Tomlin, Marysusan Bosam, Peter G. Chamberlain, “Gold for the Finding – A Pictorial History of Gippsland’s Jordan Goldfield”, page 102, first published 1979 by Hill of Content Publishing Company Pty Ltd.