Page 292 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

323.

QUORROBOLONG SCHOOL

Mrs. Laura Daunt (nee Johnston) was dismissed by the Department of Public
Instruction :following a report by Inspector Thomas Dwyer, that the Quorrobolong
School rolls had been falsified. The school was closed for a short period
during which Arthur W. Daunt made, an offer to act as teacher. This offer was
decli·ned.

The Department of Public Instruction sought a new sc~ool site closer
to the centre of the scattered population. Finally, Annie Glennie, widow of
Rev. Alfred Glennie, leased for a period of ten years, a two (2) acre area from
the "Wallong Estate" at an annual rental of a Peppercorn. This site was some
l~ miles closer along the road to Mulbring than from the 'Daunt' schooi location.
The new position was adjacent to the Wesleyan Church.

The new school building was erected by Reece Lewis, Storekeeper of
Mulbring, at a cost of £40.0.0. ($80.00). It was a structure some twenty (20)
feet by fourteen (14) feet and nine · (9) feet high. · The walls were of split
and faced slabs which were fastened with four (4) inch nails to stand on a sleeper
floor. The roof was of sawn har.dwood joists covered with galvanised corrugated
iron. The. roof carried a gutter and was spouted to an iron tank to store
drinking water. The tank had been transported ,from the Sugarloaf school at
Brunkerville. The school classroom was lined with jute by Mr. R. Lewis for
an additional charge of £5.0.0. ($10.00). The structure had a six (6) foot
wide veran9ah and two windows, each · four (4) feet ten (10) inches by two (2)
feet ten · (10) inches, which the contractor was required to glaze. He was also
to provide two separate lavatories.

On 28th September 1885, the new school was completed and ready for
occupation. The old school furniture was transported to the si.te .. The first
teacher was Margaret McGinley, .with an enrolment of 21 pupils.

It was found necessary to make repairs to the school and these were
completed on 29th May 1889 by J.A. Daunt, at a cost of £7.10.0. ($15.00).
Repairs were made to the tank, windows and lavatories and also included the
closing of the slab walls by linirg the slab-joints with battens. Further
repairs were made by George Daunt on 22nd December 1893, at a cost of £15.19.0.
($31. 90). -