Page 49 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

( 4l1.

I BLACK HILL PUBLIC SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES PAPERS - 5/14953

On 15th June 1881, a petition from the residents of Mountain
View, near Minmi, sought the establishment of a 'provisional school'
in accordance with the 22nd Section of the Public Instruction Act
of 1880. ' Surnames on the petition included Taylor, Morris, Lenegham,
Johnston, Coleman and Osborn. The petition also claimed that fifteen
(15) boys and eleven (11) girls would attend.

Inspector Maynard recommended that a school should be granted.
However, he strongly suggested that the name of the school should be
'Black Hill', the name which the district generally goes by. Also,
because of a similarity in names tq that of "Mount View" school between
Cessnock and Millfield, which had opened a few months earlier. The
inspector's report also stated that the applicants were willing to
erect the school and furnish it.

On 28th July 1881, the Department of Public Instruction approved
the application. Mr. Thomas Lenegham leased half ( ~) an acre of land,
'together with all the buildings' to the Department for an annual
rent of one peppercorn if demanded. The school opened on 17th August
1881, with William E. James as the first teacher.

The residents, on 23rd April 1884, complained to the Education
Minister:-

"of the unhealtt1y state of the school. It is construct.ed
of slabs, between which are great crack's, so wide that
the sun shines through with sufficient power to give
any child sunstroke, that might be sitting near there.
In winter, child~en have often been known to be actually
blue with cold. The school is floored with rough slabs,
and furniture cc.nnot be firmly fixed and through these
floor cracks sne.'.<::s have made their appearances".