Page 357 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

388.

WE S T 0 N S C H 0 0 L

New and additional sanitary accommodation was completed on 28th
October 1924, by Joseph T. Henry of Morpeth, at a contract price of £422.10.0.
($845.00).

During early 1925, efforts were made to establish akirrlergarten class.
On 6th July 1925, the 'Excelsior Hall' Weston, was rented at a fee of £1.0.0.
($2.0.0.) per week to house this new kindergarten class. When it was found
that it was popular and well attended, the Education Department arranged for
another portable classroom, twenty four (24) feet by twenty one (21) feet, to
be transported from Willoughby. On 12th February 1926, this classroom was
brought into use at Weston and replaced the need for the Excelsior Hall.

Primary pupil enrolments continued to increase in numbers during the
mid 1920's. In an endeavour to relieve the congestion in school classroom
accommodation, a sing~e portable classroom plus necessary school furniture was
transported on 23rd No,ember 1927, from Drummoyne workshops. The cost of this
transportation was £309.5.11. ($618.601. The Education Department saw not
only the requirement of more classrooms, but also the need for a larger play-
ground. With this in vie~, the Department purchased adjoining land, a total
area of 3 roods 8 perches. Lots 9 and 11, Section No. 18, was bought from
Jane Ann Yates for £110.0.0. ($220.00) on 30th August 1926. Also purchased
were Lots 10 and 12, Section No. 18, on 26th July 1926, from William Morgan,
again for £110.0.0. ($220.00).

By early 1923, school enrolments were 385 pupils in the primary school
with a staff of seven (7) teachers and 253 pupils in the infants school with
five (5) teachers. The Education Department decided to erect a new infants
building. This was to have two classrooms each twenty four (24) feet by twenty
one (21) feet, a kindergarten classroom twenty eight (28) feet by twenty four
(24) feet, a large assembly hall forty (40) feet by twenty four (24) feet, a
hatroom and two smaller rooms, each fifteen (15) feet by ten (10) feet. The
Government Architect estimated the cost to be £4,187.0.0. ($8,374.00). Eleven
(111 contractors submi~ted tenders ranging from £3,967.0.0. ($7,934.001 to
£5,139.0.0. ($10,278.CJ). The successful tender (Contract No. 3851) was won by
Mr. D.B.F. Carden of Roseville with his quote of £3,967.0.0. ($7,934.00). The
new building was completed on 11th January 1929, ready for the 1929 school year.