Page 369 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

400.

WOLLOMBI PUBLIC SCHOOL

On 23rd July 1900, E.A. Sternbeck of Wollombi, for the sum of £21.7.0.
($42.70), effected some minor repairs at the Wollombi School. Charles Chapman
of Ellalong on 16th October 1905, made some renovations and small repairs and
repainted the Wollombi School. The Department had estimated this work to be
£49.9.6. ($98.96), but the actual cost amounted to £44.10.0. (~89.00)~

In 1902, the Wollombi school residence consisted of four rooms, one
being fourteen (14) feet by twelve (12) feet, one twelve (12) feet by ten (10)
feet and two rooms twelve (12) feet by twelve (12) feet. Teacher J. Dobie
made an application for the erection of a stone-walled dining room sixteen (16)
feet by fourteen (14) feet and ten (10) feet high. The request was denied.
Perhaps the refusal influenced John Dobie to make an application for transfer
to the new Stanford Merthyr School - which transfer was made on 28th March 1903.

The continued increase in school enrolments required the addition
to the school, of a small room and a verandah. This project was completed
by Joseph Head of Lambton on 30th March 1907. His tender price had been
£165.0.0. ($330.00). R. Dougherty of Wollombi, on 7th February 1908, completed
repairs to the school residence. His price had been £52.17.9. ($105.79) for
the repair work which included papering the rooms, repairs to the washhouse
copper, and bricking in a new kitchen stove.

Still pupil numbers continued to grow. On 24th October 1911, the
Council of Education found that it was necessary to make more alterations for
pupil accommodation. The Council decided to erect an additional classroom
twenty two (22) feet by twenty (20) feet, a hatroom and an extra lavatory.
In its investigations the Council found that if the new building was constructed
of brick, the price of bricks carted from Kurri amounted to £4.10.0. ($9.00i
per 1,000. It was therefore rec o~mended that local stone should be used.
The Council estimated that the alterations should cost £476.16.6. ($953.66).
Mr. James P. Ryan of Cessnock was the successful contractor with his quote of
£495.15.0. ($991.50). During the fulfilling of the contract, the Council
requested Mr. Ryan to replace the sc hool shingle roof with new corrugated
galvanised iron. For this additi onal wo r k he was paid a further sum of £22.5.0.
($44.50).