Page 119 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

126.

CESSNOCK WEST SCHOOL

by twenty-one (21) feet six (6) inches; a staff room twelve (12) feet
by ten (10) feet, another upstairs hat room twenty (20) feet by eight
(8) feet and again a wide corridor.

The Governemnt Architect estimated the cost of the new Primary
School would be £6,710.0.0 ($13,420.00). Tenders were called on 19th
June 1924. Mr. Montague Audet's quote of £5,895.0.0 ($11 ,790.00) was
accepted. The new Primary School was canpleted and ready for occupancy
with the start of the 1925 school year. In its six classrooms it housed
the enrolment of three hundred and ninety eight (398) pupils being one
hundred and eighty (180) boys and two hundred and eighteen (218) girls.

The Minister of Education, Mr. A. Bruntell, was true to his
decision to acquire additional adjoining land to increase the playground
area. On 7th March 1925, Lot No. 14, Section A in Alfred Street, Cessnock
was resumed from Stephen and Elsie Neate. Compensation paid to them
amounted to £147.3.7 ($294.37). Lot No. 15, Section A, also in Alfred
Street, was resumed on 27th May 1925 from Rupert Smith. Because there
was a house on this lot, the compensation was set at £725.0.0 ($1 ,450.00).
This house was renovated by the Education Department's staff at a cost
of £420.14.0 ($841.40), and beca~e the headmaster's residence. The house
was ready for occupancy on 8th December 1926. Lot Nos. 6 and 7, Section
A, facing Wollombi Road and belonging to George Neilly, miner, of Charles
Street, Aberrnain was resumed on 29th July 1925. The compensation paid
for the two blocks was £300.0.0 ($600.00).

Although the new primary school was only occupied at the start
of the 1925 school year, it was soon found that the accommodation was
insufficient for the ever-increasing enrolments. Some pupils had to
attend emergency classrooms held in the school corridors~ To overcome
the immediate shortage of accommodation, the nearby Picture Palace was
rented from Mr. A. H. Jones, lessor, on 21st May 1925. This hall provided
room for two classes.