Page 287 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

310.

PELAW MAIN SCHOOL

A.L. Ford cleared the school ground for a fee of £16.0.0. ($32.00)
and completed the fencing of the area for £43.0.0. ($86.00). This work was
completed on 8th November 1905. Water ~ervice to the school from the Hunter
District water mains was connected by David McKay of Maitland on 16th June
1906, for a charge of £11.12.9. ($23.29).

When school enrolments . on 16th September 1910, had reached a total
of 186 pupils the larger verandah was enclosed on 6th December 1910, to be
used as an additional classroom. With a quote of £25.0.0. ($50.00), the
successful contractor had been Dilley and Wetzler.

Tarro Shire Council, on 15th January 1914, complained about the
condition of the school lavatories. Mr. Joe T. Henry of Morpeth, for his
quote of £95.0.0. ($190.00) was directed by the Department of Public Instruction
to effect the alterations.

School enrolment numbers continued to grow. More alterations,
included th~ enclosure of the remaining verandah for conversion to another
classroom and the erection of a new weathershed, twenty five (25) feet . by twelve
(12) feet, ten (10) feet high at the fr0nt and eight (8) feet high at the back.
The Government Architect had estimated the total cost of the alterations at
£410.0.0. ($82p.00). Four tenders ~ere ~eceived ranging from £223.0.0. ($446.00)
to £315.0.0. ($630.00). The succ~ssful contractors were Partridge-Wall and
Wall of East Maitland with their price of £231.17.9. ($463.79). The contract
was authorised in March 1916. During July 1916, whilst the alterations were
proceeding, school was conducted in the open in the schoolgrounds. Work was
completed and the new areas occupied on 8th August 1916.

The Pelaw Main manual training class completed the erection of a
picket fence around a portion of the schoolground on 31st July 1917. The
Ta~ro Shire Council requested the Education Department to erect a rail and
a~d paling fence around the playground. The Pelaw l~in Progress Association
supported this proposal by a donation of £116.0.0. ($232.00). This fence
was completed in December 1918. Shortly after this same Progress Association
erected memorial pillar gates carrying 'Honor Tablets' of World War 1 volunteers.