Page 288 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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PELAW . MAIN SCHOOL

Electricity was connected to the school by H. McFadden of Kurri on
31st March 1923. His price had been £4.0.0. ($8.00). This installation had
followed a request from the 'Pelaw Main Progress Association.

Mr. J.J. Stauffer of Aberdare Street Pelaw Main, on 14th May 1926,
complained to the Education Department that the school boundary fences were
encroaching on his property. When the school ground was re-surveyed, it was
found that the side and rear fences were four (4) feet out of alignment. These
fences were correctly sited by the Education Department's repair staff at an
estimated cost of £30~0.0. ($60.00).

The school had some minor repairs and a repaint on 10th September
1925, at an estimated expense of £216.8.0. ($432.80). This work had been
executed bYJ the Education Department's paint and repair staff.

r

An Inspector, on 18th August 1932 reported that over the years, the
Pelaw Main School had been altered to provide three (3) classrooms, a sewing
room, a hat room and a· porch. He listed the locations of the classes as fbllows :

First Class 52 Pupils in Classroom No. 1.
Second Class 36 Pupils in Hat Room
Third Class 37 Pupils in Classroom No. 2
Fourth Class 22 Pupils in Classroom No. 2
Fifth Class 25 Pupils in Classroom No. 3
Sixth Class 24 Pupils in Classroom No. 3
196 Pupils
TOTAL

The sewing room was utilised for its designated purposes. The porch
had been converted to a temporary hat room. The Inspector recommended that
additional accommodation should be provided.

The Department of Education's solution was that the subsidisec school
using the Richmond Vale schoolhouse and which had an average daily attendance
of eleven (11) pupils should now be acco~modated in a room of the old teacher's
residenct?. The Richmond Vale Schoolhouse consisted of a classroom, twenty