Page 51 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

46.

BLACK HILL PUBLIC SCHOOL

price was £424.18.6. ($849.86). The building was completed on 23rd
September 1924. The old building that had stood for thirty seven
(37) years, was sold to Mr. L.R. Fletcher for £30.0.0. ($60.00) in
1928.

In 1938, when the Education Department Repairs Officer repor~ing
on Black Hill Public School, stated that - "no paint was left on the
exterior walls and sashes'', the school was re-painted. The cost was
assessed at £49.12.9. ($99.29).

It is of interest that the original school site, leased
by Thomas Leneghan, was acquired by the Department of Education as
a portion of two (2) acres on 5th October 1887. On 12th March 1930,
this two (2) acres site was sold by the Education Department to Mr.
E.H. Leneghan for the sum of £20.0.0. ($40.00).

An Inspectorial Report made in 1947 to the Education Department,
made cowment on the old long desks and forms used by the pupils in
that "they are dreadfully old-fashioned and out-moded". However,
they were not replaced until 1957, the year the school's first Parents
and Citizens Association was formed. Then iron-framed dual desks
took over. Two years late~ in 1959, wooden tables and chairs replaced
the dual desks. The new active P. and C. Association members demonstrated
their eagerness and sincerity in this same year, when they voluntarily
painted the exterior of the school. Perhaps they had been influenced
by the new teacher-in-charge, Mr. Ian Wilson, who had been appointed
to the school on 11th March 1957.

On 24th October 1962, the Education Department's Repair
and Painting staff completed renovations assessed at costing £705.14.0.
($1,411.40). The Education Department replaced on 15th October 1968,
the old pit toilets with a brick building and a septic sewerage system.
This cost .was estimated at £1 ,210.0.0 ($2,420.00).