Page 250 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

273.

MURRAYS RUN SCHOOL

the old schoolhouse building was given back to the Sternbeck family on 11th
April 1891. The original school site of two (2) acres was leased for
a five (5) year period on 6th July 1891, by Mr. Matthew Sternbeck at a rental
of £1.0.0. ($2 . 00) per annum.

Mr. Matthew Sternbeck was engaged by the Department of Public
Instruction to provide a lavatory and to paint the schoolhouse internally and
externally. The work, for which he was paid £14.0.0. ($28.00), was completed
on 4th November 1891.

For a number of years, pupil enrolment numbers had been dwindling.
When in March 1893, the school had an enrolment of only eleven (11) pupils
and a daily average attendance of nine (9), Murrays Run became a 'Half-time
School', sharing with Dairy Arm, the teacher Alex Lochrin. However, as the
numbers continued to drop, Murrays Run was closed on 30th September 1894.

Mr. Matthew Sternbeck forwarded a petition to the Department of
Public Instruction requesting the continuance of Murrays Run as a 'Half-time'
School. He suggested the Department's consideration of sharing, either with
Dairy Arm or Yango, or Laguna or Paynes Crossing. Mr. Sternbeck assured the
Department that there would be at least eight (8) ·pupils. The Department
agreed to allow another opportunity. With Mr. Charles Matthews as teacher,
Murrays Run School re-opened on 31st January 1895, on a 'Half-time' basis with
Yango Creek. However, after a struggle of 18 months, the Murrays Run School
finally closed on 28th June 1896 .

On 15th July 1896, Mr. Arthur Storey removed all the Department's
property from the Murrays Run School to his Laguna School. For this effort,
Teacher Arthur Storey was paid 12/- ($1.20).

The Prickly Pear Destruction Board, on 6th June 1930, charged the
Education Department £3 . 14.9. ($7.491 for iti treatment of this noxious weed
on the Murrays Run School site.