Page 189 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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LAGUNA SCHOOL

STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. - 5/16535
- 5/16536-1

Laguna, like the other older and earlier settled areas within
the City of Greater Cessnock Municipality, had strong interests in
'Education'. The first school here appears to have been a Church of
England Denominational School. Rev. J.F.R. Whinfield was appointed to
the Wollombi Church of England Parish on 16th January 1846, which Parish
included the Laguna area. An entry in the Rev. Whinfield's diary, dated
30th May 1855, has special significance; it states:-

"May 30th 1855. Held a meeting at Laguna to discuss
building a schoolhouse there".

The Newcastle Church Society in its 1855 Annual Report, records a grant
of £11.8.4. ($22.84) towards Laguna School. The Denominational School
is thought to have opened in 1855, with Thomas O'Dell as the first
teacher and to have had 40 pupils. A.P. Elkin, in his book "Parish
of Wollombi", shows Mary Bourke as the teacher in 1857.

The 1857 Department of Public Instruction shows a section
headed "List of Church of England Schools within the State receiving
Government Aid". This list does not include Laguna Church of England
Denominational School. The same Department's 1863 Annual Report, in
the section "Denominational Schools", records that a Church of England
school was operating at Laguna with a Mrs. Townsend as the teacher.
This section in the 1864 Annual Report again records that the Church
of England Denominational School still had Mrs. Townsend as teacher
at an annual salary of £72.0.0. ($144.00). This report indicated that
the school enrolment was 18 boys and 14 girls, and had a daily average
attendance of 12 boys and 10 girls. Also, the school was said to be
in good repair, with a residence provided.

Following the Public Instruction Act of 1866,