Page 304 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

335.

RICHMOND VALE SCHOOL

"The building called the Richmond Vale School is in
a most disgraceful state of repair. As soon as
rain falls, the children get wet".

A petition from eleven (11) parents of Richmond Vale school children,
dated 21st September 1882, requested a new school. Portion of this petition
reads:-

"We the undersigned residents of Richmond Vale have
children attending the public school of said place,
.. .... .... .... The one now used is a dilapidated
old hut".

Inspector T. D,.;yer on behalf of his Department, on 1st May 1883, made
an offer to Mr. H. Eutchinson to purchase the school cottage and four (4) acres
for £120.0.0. ($240.00). There was a small orchard at the rear of the cottage
and Mr. Hutchinson haggled for a higher price.

Government Surveyor Tucker in his survey, described the area in which
the Department was interested as six (6) acres, part of M. Connor's original
100 acres grant and now part of H. Hutchinson's property. Mr. Tucker valued
this six acres, including the cottage, at £200.0.0. ($400.00). The land was
resumed and appears in the Government Gazette dated 6th May 1884. Repairs
costing £36.0.0. ($72.00) were made by Thomas Southam of Maitland.

On 11th February 1889, Mr. John R. Riggs, Manager of Richmond Vale
Coal Company requested the Department of Public Instruction to increase the
accommodation at the school. In a reply to Mr. Riggs, the Department advised
that it had accepted a tender from Mr. Reece Lewis of Horseshoe Bend Maitland,
to erect a new wooden school building. Unfortunately the Archives records do
not show the amount of the quote. The new structure was to be twenty four (24)
feet long by thirteen (12) feet wide and nine (9) feet high. It was to be of
lapped weatherboard construction, tin lined, with a galvanised corrugated iron
roof.