Page 107 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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CESSNOCK HIGH SCHOOL

Cessnock High School had perhaps the highest enrolments in N.S.W.,
or maybe even in Australia. However, more than one third of its pupils
were housed in areas away from the High School site. During 1942, the classes
previously held at the Technical College in South Cessnock, including .metalworl<,
woodwork, and technical drawing, were provided accommodation at the annexe in
the Primary schoolgrounds.

Towards the end of 1956, records show that the High School, with nine
hundred and sixty eight (968) pupils being taught in twenty-nine (29) classes
hada teaching staff of fifty-two (52). Additions to the . High School were made
by Mr. F.H. Compton, Building Contractor of Maitland and were completed in
September 1957. His quote had been £171 ,940.0.0 ($343,880.00). The additions
included six (6) extra classrooms, a clinic, a home science block, four (4)
kitchens, a laundry, three (3) needlework classrooms, a fitting room, a manual
training room, two (2) woodwork classrooms, a metalwork classroom, a handicraft
classroom and three (3) technical drawing classrooms. At long last, the High
School was completely housed in buildings on the present site, under the control
of Mr. Ron Brereton, as Headmaster. The new additions were opened on
6th December 1957, by the then Minister for Education, Mr. R~J. Heffron.

The caretaker's cottage was re-painted on 7th December 1958 by the
Education Department's paint and repair staff. Charges for this wor~ were
assessed at £1,020.0.0 ($2,040.00).

Enrolments at Cessnock High School continued to grow. New ideas
and trends on both class-si2e numbers and methods of teaching saw a need
for yet further High School rooms. On 23rd November 1964, contractors Reed
and Smurthwaite of Kurri, were given a contract to construct four (4) additional
classrooms, a library, two (2) science laboratories, two (2) music rooms,
one (1 J large staff room, two (2) staff toilets, one (1 l double-sized ar: room,
and t·,10 (2) store rooms. Their quote had been £99,489.15.4 ($198,979.54).
The n~w rooms were com~leted and ready for occupancy on 6th June 1966.