Page 333 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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STANFORD MERTHYR SCHOOL

to close Stanford Merthyr school and to transfer the teachers and pupils
to Kurri. When no reply was received, the community considered the proposal
was just a 'rumour'. When the transfer became a reality, another Public
Protest Meeting was held in Stanford village on Monday night 1st October
1904. Objections from this meeting did nothing to alter the Department's
previous plans and decisions.

During the last half of 1905, Mr. Reece Lewis, contractor of Maitland,
was engaged by the Department of Public Instruction to remove the school from
Stanford Merthyr and to re-erect it at Heddon Greta. Mr. Lewis had submitted
a quote of £125.6.8 ($250.68). This project was completed on 21st November
1905.

On 27th May 1906, Stanford Merthyr Progress Association made
application to the Department of Public Instruction to use portion of the
old school site for the purpose of erecting a Mechanics Institute. The
application was denied. The Methodist Church, on 17th October 1910, made
an offer of £5.0.0 ($10.00) to purchase one half (~) acre from the old
school site area for the purpose of building a church. This offer was also
refused.

However, the Department of Public Instruction finally decided to
sell the site. E.W. Sparke, auctioneer of Maitland, was instructed to
conduct an auction sale on the site. This was set for Saturday 20th July
1912. On the following Monday, Mr. Sparke advertised on behalf of the
Department that the successful bidder had been the East Greta Coal Mining
Company with an offer of £31 .10.0 ($63.00).

Within five (5) years, the Stanford Merthyr Progress Association,
because of the continued growth of the area and with an ever-increasing
mining population, were pressing for the construction of an infants school.
The Association considered that the crossing of the railway line and the
earlier mentioned long walks to either Kurri, Pelaw Main or Heddon Greta
schools, was hazardous to the younger children from Stanford Merthyr. In
a letter dated 17th July 1919, accompanying a petition seeking the establishment