Page 35 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

30.

AL L ANDAL E S CH0 0 L

attendance, it was recommended that a school tent, eighteen (18) feet by
fifteen (15) feet, should be provided. Further, the recommendation indicated
that the 'test' school be named "AllandaJ.e" and that, if this school was to
open, then the "Oswald" school should be closed and all materials transferred
to Allandale.

On 31st March 1882, a 'school tent' was erected by Carroll and
Gellatley of Cessnock at a cost of £38.8.3. ($76.83).

On 6th July 1882, Constable O'Brien of Cessnock in reporting a
larceny of money from . the Allandale School, stated that:-

"Allandale Public School is a tent situated on
Cessnock Road, about six (6) miles from Lochinvar
and eight (8) miles from Cessnock".

The school had commenced with an enrolment of thirty-three (33)
pupils early in April 1882. The first teacher was Marjory Reid.

It was soon evident that the new school attendance was going to
be regular. The Education Department looked for a possible school site.
Finally it purchased, for the sum of £40.0.0. ($80.00), an area of three (3)
acres from C.M.G. Capp of 'Grassy Haigh' on 12th May 1883. The site was
part of a 1,620 acres block and it was surveyed by J.J. Tucker of Gosford.

Tenders for a new school building were called, the successful
tenderer . being Robert Sneesby, with a quote of £197.0.0. ($394.00). He
completed the school on 2nd October 1034 and it opened with an enrolment
of thirty (30) pupils

Teacher-in-Charge, Miss El~zabeth Townsend, early in 1887 made an
application for the erection of a weathershed, which was refused. The Inspector