Page 303 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

334.

RICHMOND VALE SCHOOL

STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. 5/17477-lA
5/17477-lB

Richmond Vale, like its neighbouring villages and hamlets of Mulbring,
Buchanan and Buttai, had been part of the very early agricultural development
of the Lower Hunter. Some Army Officers like Close and Bloomfield, had been
given large grants in the East Maitland to Sugarloaf Mountain areas. They in
turn, were followed by settlers like Captain E. Hungerford and Mr.Knox-Child
and others, who made their homes in the areas adjacent to the Hexham swamps,
Wentworth swamps, tributary creeks and surrounding foothills.

John Brown, Eales and others had, by the 1840's, pursued coal at East
Maitland, Four Mile Creek, Minmi and other nearby areas. This to some extent,
had brought some people to the region, but in the main the early industry which
attracted settlers to Richmond Vale, was agriculture. Later, coal mining and
its auxiliary railway was to have a far reaching effect in this district.

The earliest application and ~orrespondence for the establishment of
a school at Richmond Vale do not now appear to be in the State Archives files.
However, the Department of Public Instruction did open a 'Provisional School'
at Richmond Vale on 4th October 1880, with Jame~ Haydon as the first teacher.
From the Archives records, it would appear that Teacher James Haydon arranged
for his school to be conducted on "Buchanan", a property owned by William Groves.
Rent was fixed at £10.0.0. ($20.00) per annum.

For some unknown reason, when in December 1881 school enrolments had
reached a total of 23 pupils (12 boys and 11 girls) and was raised to the status
of 'Public School', William Groves requested the Department of Public Instruction
to vacate his premises. As a temporary school in January 1882, Mr. Henry
Hutchinson's cottage was rented at 5/- ($0.50) per week. Mr. Hutchinson offered
to sell his 132 acres including the cottage to the Department for £4.0.0. ($8.00)
per acre, but the offer was declined.

The second teacher, Mr. Edward Langbridge, who took up his appointment
on 9th March 1882, reported to his Department that:-