Page 165 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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KITCHENER PUBLIC SCHOOL

STATE ARCHIVES FILE NO. - 5/16490

Aberdare Central Colliery was an extension of the Caledonian
Collieries activities. This area was first looked at by the Company early
in 1914, but it was not until 8th November 1915 that the sinking of the shaft
commenced.

This coal development, like all other mining projects, soon attracted
a small settlement surrounding the proposed pit. Miners brought their families
to the area. As early as November 1915, a 'Mr. J. Lawson' had written to
the Education Department seeking a school. When this application was denied,
he again wrote to the Education Department on 17th January 1916, requesting the
provision of transport from the new Kitchener Village to Cessnock Primary School
In this letter, Mr. Lawson had suggested that a conveyance subsidy of at least
fivepe~ce ($0.05c.) per day per pupil should be paid for the three and a half
(3~) mile journey to Cessnock. This application was also refused.

A meeting of these local Kitchener residents was held in June 1916.
A petition signed by seventeen (17) families was presented by J. Lawson,
Secretary of the meeting. The petition indicated that there were possibly
twenty-nine (29) pupils. The Education Department directed their Inspector
J. Finney to investigate the situation. On 11th August 1916, Inspector
Finney recommended the establishment of a school.

A timber hall, twenty-four (24) feet by eighteen (18) feet, and nine
(9) feet high, with boarded walls and floor, and a corrugated iron roof, was
leased on 5th September 1916, from the owner, J. Lawson, who agreed to let the
building for Twelve (12) shillings and six (6) pence ($1.26) a week rental.
There were two (2) lavatories for which Mr. Lawson agreed to provide a pan serv

The following furniture was despatched from Sydney on 24th November

1916:-

Three High Desks, six (6) feet eight (8) inches long
Three Low Desks, six (6) feet eight (8) inches long
Six - Forms, six (6) feet eight (8) inches long