Page 134 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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DAIRY ARM SCHOOL

On 22nd May 1890, teacher Alex Lochrin asked permission to use the
existing Mount Finch School as a residence and offered to repair another
building nearby on the same school ground site to be used as the school.
The Department sanctioned the request.

Michael Culley, on 24th June 1890, replaced the bark roof on
the Dairy Arm School with new bark. For this he was paid £4.0.0 ($8.00).

On 30th October 1890, the Department of Public Instruction decided
to purchase the two acre school site at Dairy Arm. The land was part Qf
Portion No. 42, Parish of Hay. The original papers (N14-1501 l show that
the price was £20.0.0 ($40.00).

When white-ant damage was found in November 1892, the Local
School Board sought the Department's help. William Connors, a local resident,
was paid £3.19.0 ($7.90) to make the necessary repairs.

In March 1893, when the enrolment at Mount Finch had dropped to
eight (8) pupils, the Department of Public Instruction ~ecided to close
the school and make Dairy Arm a 'half-time' school with Murrays Run.
Seven of the eight Mount Finch pupils enrolled at Dairy Ann. Figures for
enrolments at the schools as at 14th April 1893, were:-

Dairy Arm with 17 pupils and a daily attendance of 16.

Murrays Run with 11 pupils and a daily attendance of 9.

Murrays Run school enrolments had been dwindling for a few years
prior to this 'half-time' arrangement with Dairy Arm. Towards the end of
1894, when Murrays Run school's figures again dropped, the Department of
Public Instruction decided upon its closure and joined Dairy Arm and
Wattagan Schools on a 'half-time' basis. This took effect as from 1st October
1894.

In March 1896, when the bark roof on the Dairy Arm School
started to leak badly and also the fireplace needed repairs, teacher