Page 116 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

123.

CESSNOCK WEST SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. - 5/15359

- 5/15360
- 5/15361

Almost from the advent of coal mining development at Cessnock,
it was found that school accommodation was a problem. School enrolments
had increased dramatically in 1904. The two Caledonian Collieries, Pits
of Aberdare and Aberdare Extended, which were planned in this period and
commenced their operations soon after, attracted miners who brought their
families to live nearby. It was obvious from even this early time that
the old school in what is now Cessnock Cemetery land would be quite
inadequate and, investigations were made in 1905 as to what was the most
suitable site. At this time, there were two main centres of population.
The old village at the junction of Allandale and Wollombi Roads Cessnock
and a newer minirig village adjacent to the railway and the two pits.
There was some conflict between these groups. Finally, the Education
Department compromised by placing their new school on the present Cessnock-
Aberdare Primary School site.

From the onset, with an initial enrolment of about four hundred
(400) pupils and a continuing steady increase of school attenders, it was
evident that either a bigger school or another school was required. Over
the fifteen years period from 1900 to 1915, there were numerous Cessnock
estates sub-divisions and land sales promotions. Many miners, particularly
those working at Aberdare Extended Pit and the newer development at Bellbird
and 'Little Cessnock' pits, elected to live in the area that is now known
as West Cessnock.

On 29th January 1918, Mr. D.J. Cameron, Honourary Secretary of
the West Cessnock Progress Association, forwarded a petition on behalf of
the local residents, requesting the construction of a new school within
their area. The Education Department recognised this urgent need and
on 1st November 1918, purchased land, one (1 l acre, three (3) roods,
eighteen (18) perches, from the Caledonian Collieries for a school site.
This land was part of Portion No. 261, Parish of Pokolbin and was part
of an area that had recently been surveyed by Alfred Francis Hall for