Page 22 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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ABERMAIN PRIMARY SCHOOL

school on Monday 22nd November, 1909. They were Mr. W. J. Horne, Headmaster,
Mr. C.F. Sykes, Misses M. Thornburn, A. Thompson and E. Coaldrake.

F. Hill's cottage had been vacated on 19th November, 1909,
the Presbyterian Church Hall on 29th November, 1909 and the old school on
30th November, 1909. Mr. D. Jones, the local carrier at Abermain, charged a
sum of £3.12.6 ($7.25) to shift the furniture, desks, forms, etc., from
these three points to the new school. Hayes and Ferry of Largs had cleared
and fenced the new school site at a cost of £187.0.0 ($374.00).

By 19th September, 1909 the school enrollment had reached 364
pupils, 188 boys and 176 girls. The records also show that at the
commencement of the 1911 school year, the school teachers were:-

W.J. Horne Eeadmaster

T.E. Pyman

Miss E. Long

Miss E. Coaldrake

Miss H. Dinter

Miss M. Corcoram

Following the opening of the new school, the Abennain Progress
Committee requested the Department of Public Instruction to give the
old building fo~ use as a School of Arts. The request was declined
because the Department was considering shifting the old building to
the new school site to be utilised as a manual training classroom.
Early in 1911, when the old building still stood on the old site, Mr.
G. Hall who lived opposite, was appointed as caretaker at £5.0.0 ($10.00)
per annum. In November 1912, Thomas and Sattler, contractors of Aberdare
Street, Weston were authorised to shift the building and re-erect at
Neath as an infants school. Their tender had been £145.0.0 ($290.00).
The work was completed on 13th Jul y , 1913. On 21st July, 1914 Mr. John
Taylor of William Street, Abermain ,,ith a tender price of £56.0.0
($112.001 won the contract to remove the fences, gates and lavatories