Page 278 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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PAYNES CROSSING SCHOOL 5/1
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. - STOCKYARD CREEK' - 5/17298- l(A)
5/17298-l(B)
- PAYNES CROSSING
PAYNES CROSSING

Whilst today Paynes Crossing is well known as such, the area in

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earlier days when established, was known as . 'Stockyard Creek'. Like other

Wollombi Brook Regions, Stockyard Creek had had a great interest in the

education of their children. A private school is said to have been in

existence in the mid 1860's with a 'Mrs. Elliott' as teacher. It appears a

'Provisional' School had been applied for during 1869, but was denied. A

'Provisional' School was established on 1st June 18.71, with Thomas Ledsarn as
teacher and twenty two (22) pupils enrolled.

Inspector J. Jones made an annual school examination of Stockyard
Creek School on 20th December 1871. His comments were:-

"Schoolhouse and furniture are suitable. Teaching
methods are old fashioned and the pupil proficiency
is very small. The school records are unreliable".

Numbers appeared to have dwindled during 1872. After the annual
school examination in December 1872, Teacher Thomas Ledsam was charged with
falsifying the School Attendance Records and was dismissed from the service.
The Stockyard Creek 'Provisional' School was closed in December 1872.

Another attempt was made to have a Provisional School when in October
1874, Henry Prue was appointed as teacher. This also failed and the school
was again closed in September 1875.

On 4th September 1879, Robert Roberts, on behalf of his fellow
residents of Stockyard Creek, wrote to the Department of Public Instruction
seeking the establishment of a 'Public School'. He and his fellow Signatories
Michael Cody and Andrew Doolan, indicated to the Department that there were
some twenty four (24) possible pupils from the children of school age within
the area. Further, that some £i5.0.0 .. ($30.00) had been raised by their