Page 235 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

258.

MUL B R I NG S C H 0 0 L

When Inspector J. Jones made an investigation he found that the school
had a daily average attendance of thirty seven (37) pupils and that the resi-
dence was in need of urgent attention. Inspector Jones' recommendation to
his Department reads, in part:-

1. Demolish old portion of the residence and add
two new rooms, each to be twelve (12) feet by
twelve (12) feet.

2. A weathershed to be built at the school from
the best of the old materials.

3. The new section of the residence to be of
weatherboard construction. It should have a
brick chimney, a front verandah and lobby.
With a steam sawmill nearby, my estimate of
costs of construction would be £90.0.0. ·
($180.00).

4. Two new 400 gallon tanks to be supplied.
Both the school and residence should be
guttered and piped to the tanks. Estimated
cost - £24.0.0. ($48.00).

5. Architect Pender to supervise the erection.

When tenders were sought in issues of the Maitland Mercury Newspaper, Samuel
Foster and Fredrick Hubbard, joint contractors of Mulbring, were successful
with their quote of £180.0.0. ($360.00).

Sugarloaf local School Board, on 12th January 1878, requested the
Department of Public Instruction to investigate the need for a new school.
The daily average attendance had reached fifty (50) pupils. The School Eoar·d
considered the building to be too small. The Department arranged an
examination of the conditions but because of increased school construction
commitments in other areas, declined to make any alteration to the existing