Page 140 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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147.

ELLALONG SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. - 5/15800 (A) & (B)

The first school at Ellalong was a Church of England Denominational
school. It had been commenced under the Dual School Boards' system, set
up by Governor Fitzroy. The first reference to such a school at Ellalong
appears to have been that made in the diary of Rev. J. Whinfield, the
incumbent Rector of Wollombi, in which he records that on 26th August
1852, he visited the Church School at Ellalong. This reference to a Church
school at Ellalong is supported by an item in the 1853 Annual Report of
the Department of Public Instruction under the heading "Denominational
School Lists and Salaries", which shows an amount of £30.0.0 ($60.00) .
was charged to Ellalong School salary. However, in the absence of further
references in the immediate following years in the Annual Reports of the
Department of Public Instruction, it is possible that this Church of England
school may have closed temporarily.

Sometime early in 1858, some contact from Ellalong was made
to the State National Board of Education for the purpose of the establishment
of a National School at Ellalong. Inspector W. Wilkins was directed to
investigate. His report dated 16th July 1858, indicated that the local
prime mover was Rev. Charles Spericer of "Glenmyn", Ellalong. The Inspector
noted that Rev. C. Spencer had been a clergyman who had been suspended
for intemperance. Rev. C. Spencer had already organised a school and
his local School Committee consisted of Alexander Norrie, Samuel Cadman
and William Mc Cann. The Inspector informed that the schoolhouse was
a structure built by Robert Crawford and stood on land owned by Alexander
Norrie. It was a building twenty two (22) feet by twenty (20) feet, but
an area within the building twen~y two (22) feet by six (6) feet had been
divided inside the building and was being retained for use for Church
services. Mr. Alexander Norrie, the owner, had leased out the building
at an annual rental of £10.0.0 ($20.00). The teacher was Andrew James
Mc Laren, who had been working for Rev. C. Spencer for the previous three
(3) months. School had commenced on 13th June 1858 with thirty five (35)
pupils. The Inspector recorded that the family religions were:-

Church of England 20
Roman Catholic
Presbyterian 11
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