Page 237 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

260.

MU L B R I NG S C H 0 0 L

Chief Inspector J.C. Maynard dated 13th December 1882, pointed out that this
Sugarloaf School had recently been re-named 'Mulbring School'. At the time
of the re-naming, the Department of Public Instruction had three schools named
'Sugarloaf' - one near Quirindi, one hear Dungog and the third near Maitland,
re-named 'Mulbring". There were two other schools named 'Sugarloaf Hill' -
one near Cooma and the second near Campbelltown. Five similarly named schools
must have caused much confusion and misdirection of correspondence and records.
The file for Sugarloaf (Mulbring) does not contain any description of the
Architect's design. A notation suggests that her estimation of the cost of
construction of her design could be £700.0.0. ($1,400.00).

A new site, an area of two (2) acres, being Portion No. 9, Parish
of Mulbring, situated between Palmer Street and Water Street, Village of Mulbring
(the present school site), was resumed and dedicated in Government Gazette
dated 29th June 1883. This land is said to have belonged to Richard Tickle,
who claimed £30.0.0. ($60.00) compensation for his resumed land. However,
on 7th February 1884, Mr. Tickle accepted £17.14.0. ($35.40) as full payment.

When tenders were called, T.H. Cooper of Regent Street West Maitland,
was the successful contractor. The Archives Records do not include the number
of tenderers, or the final accepted quote price . . However, the records do
show that because the new school site was heavily timbered, the contractor
was allowed additional monies, being £16.0.0. ($32.00) for clearing the land
and £40.0.0. ($80.00) for extra foundations. The new school was completed
and occupied on 26th March 1884. The first teacher in the new school was
Mr. Sydney Dodds who had taken up at Sugarloaf (Mulbring) School on 2nd November
1882.

During May 1884, the Department of Public Instruction, following
a recommendation from Chief Inspector J.C. Maynard, decided to sell the old
school site and its buildings. Inspector Maynard had further recommended
that two iron water storage tanks should be removed to the new school. Sparke
and Clifton, Auctioneers of Maitland, were instructed to hold an auction sale
on the school site. Local residents had anticipated a cheap purchase but
· Teacher ~ydney Dodds ran the price up to such an extent that Mr. Henry Hector