Page 131 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

138.

CRAWFORDVILLE SCHOOL

the area, plus a shortage of school accommodation at Millfield and
Paxton and decided to erect a new infants school building at Crawford
Village.

The successful contractor was William Williams of 15 Sparke
Street Waratah. His tender price was £672.0.0 ($1,344.00). The school
was completed and opened on 2nd September 1929, with an enrolment of
fifty-seven (57) pupils. The first teacher was Miss Alice Kate Gibson.

The Education Department's records show .that following the
miner's lock-out and the Economic Depression period, 1929-1932, the
enrolment at Crawfordville Infants School had dwindled to twenty-four
(24) pupils. In order to make the school a more stable propostion, a
third year primary class was introduced at the beginning of 1934. At
the start of the following year, 1935, a fourth year primary class
as well as a third year primary class, was established. However, in
October 1935, both primary classes were returned to Millfield Primary
School.

The Crawfordville Village Infants School closed in December 1969.
The Education Department revoked its title on 14th July 1972 and the building
and site were dedicated as a Community Centre for the City of Cessnock
Municipal Council.

The headmistresses-or-teachers-in-charge at Crawfordville
Village Infants School have been:-

Alice Gibson 16th August 1929
Elizabeth Lawson 26th May 1933
Joan Dazzell 2nd January 1936
Ethel Hanlon 26th January 1937
Gladys Coates 23rd January 1945
Elsie Forman 13th October 1947
Gwenneth Frost 2nd February 1960
Edith Li t.tlewood 29th January 1963

Until the school closed in December 1969