Page 285 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

308.

PEL AW MAIN SCHOOL

STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. 5/17309-2

5/17310-1

Like other mining areas, where villages soon grew up around colliery
developments, Pelaw Main was no exception. Some proving work had been carried
on in two small tunnels on a large lease. When tbe original entrepreneurs ·
ran into financial difficulties on 1st August 1900, the lease was divided into
two sections. The northern and eastern section was taken over by the East
Greta Coal Mining Company and was renamed Stanford Merthyr. The southern

and western portion was acquired by J. & A. Brown and renamed Pelaw Main.

With the advent of the railway and with easy access to coal, the first train
of coal was despatched from Pelaw Main on 10th January 1902.

It was not long before efforts were being made by the new mining
community for the establishment of a school at Pelaw Main. During 1901,
Inspector Thomas Dwyer had examined the mining developments at East Greta,
Heddori Greta, Stanford Merthyr and Pelaw Main with a view to assessing the
Department's requirements and future responsibilities for schools in all these
areas. On 15th May 1902, in a report to his superiors, Inspector Dwyer advised
that there were fifty nine (59) children between the ages of five (5) years
and fourteen (14) years living at · Pelaw Main.

In the light of the mining developments and their Inspector's investi-
gation and recommendation, the Department of Public Instruction decided to
establish a school at Pelaw Main. Two churches some distance ~part, were
rented to be utilised as classrooms. The church representatives, Rev.
B.J. Meek for the Methodist Church and Francis Thomas, Church Secretary for
the Congregational Church, agreed the rent for each church should be 15/-
($1.50) per week.

School commenced on 1st May 1903, with J. Dobie as the first teacher.
He was assisted at the second location by Patrick Hickey, a pupil teacher.
Inspector McClelland made an official visit to the area a~d sent the following
advice by telegram to his Chief Inspector on the same date, 8th May 1903:-