Page 153 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

176.

HEDDON GRETA SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NO. - 5/16256

As early as 1890, a group of investors led by Mr. H. Trenchard,
a Maitland Bank Manager, had been examining the prospects of developing
a coal mine on J.H. Garvin's freehold of six hundred and forty (640) acres.
Due to shortage of funds, it did not make much progress. The success of
the East Greta Coal Mining Company had encouraged others to search further
out on the South Maitland field. By 1898, the East Greta Coal Mining Company
itself, became involved in a new area being developed at Stanford Greta.

On 19th June 1901, some interested persons advertised in the
Newcastle Herald newspaper, that a new company was being floated to construct
a colliery on the Garvin Land Grant. This new company was closely linked
both by management and shareholding to the East Greta Coal Mining Company.
The prospectus indicated that it required to raise £15,000.0.0 ($30,000.00)
to build a unit to produce five hundred (500) tons of coal. In the same
issue of the newspaper, the readers were informed that two hundred (200)
house building blocks were available at Heddon Greta and it was expected
the new colliery would require at least one hundred and fifty (150) men.

R~cords show that some thirty (30) men were employed by April
1902. The first train of coal was despatched in June 1902. In the N.S.W.
Mines Department records, one finds that in 1902, .fifteen thousand one
hundred and eighty (15,180) tons of coal was won by a work force of ninety
two (92) men. The more wealthy developments of Pelaw Main and Stanford
Merthyr collieries attracted the larger number of orders and employees.
With this intense progress, mining townships quickly grew around Pelaw
Main and Stanford Merthyr Collieries.

Progress Associations in these areas were soon clamouring for
schools and opportunities for education. From their efforts, new schools
at both of these mining townships were opened on the same day, 1st May
1903. Both schools were soon crowded with pupils and sorely tested the
available accommodation. Although the small mining village of Heddon Greta
did not carry the same political pressures and influences, it was not
completely un-noticed. Ouiet request3 by the Heddon Greta Colliery Manager,
William Ledger, for the establishment of a school, supported by several