Page 36 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

AL L ANDALE S C H 0 0 L

reporting on the application stated - "Allandale is a poor ninth class
school. Enrolment is twenty-four (24) pupils, and the average weekly
attendance is nineteen (19). I recommend that a weathershed be not
provided until the school ranks in class eight".

The first school must have been very poorly built. Following
an inspection by the Education Department inspector, and his
recommendation for some improvements to be made, tenders were called.
In his quote, William Martens of Allandale stated, - "I will do the
improvements to Allandale Public School, namely the closing-up of
the slabs of the school-room wall, and to paint the building and outhouses
with two (2) coats of paint, also to paint the ceiling, the window
frames and doors inside; to put in three (3) panes of window glass
and new window fastenings for the sum of $14.0.0 ($28.00)".

Again in December, 1890 the teacher-in-charge, Miss Elizabeth
Townsend, made a further application for the erection of a weathershed.
This time she was successful. On 7th January, 1891, Mr. J. Mc earthy
of Allandale was authorised to move an existing weathershed from Knockpin
to Allandale, a distance of some ten (10) miles. For his efforts,
Mr. Mc earthy received the sum of ten pounds, £10.0.0 ($20.00).

During this year (1891 ), Miss Elizabeth Townsend married
Mr. Hall from the Pokolbin area. A petition from the parents of the
school children for the erection of a school teacher's residence was
refused on 17th November, 1891.

A group of people living near Allandale Railway Station
thought the school some two (2) miles distant on the Cessnock Road,
was too far for their ch:ldren to travel to school. On 16th September,
1902, they sent a petitic~ for a new school to be built near Allandale
Railway Station. The petition suggested that the new school should
be called "Allandale School", and the then present 'Allandale School'
should be re-named "South Allandale School". The signatories of this