Page 60 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

67.

B R 0 WN MU I R S C H 0 0 L

When the school enrolment numbers at Brown Muir dropped to five
(5) pupils, the Department of Public Instruction closed the school on
1st March 1900.

During 1921, a type of 'Private' school was introduced in the
'Brown Muir' area. In this period, the pupils attending were taught by
Violet Mc Fadden of Morpeth in an enclosed verandah room at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Crawford. Violet Mc Fadden was replaced as teacher by
Arny Lee in mid 1922. Both lady teachers had been prqvided with accommodation
and board by ~he parents of the pupils in rotation turn.

On 22nd June 1922, Mr. R. Burgess of Brown Muir area, wrote
as correspondent on behalf of his local neighbouring residents seeking the
establishment of a Provisional School at Brown Muir. He advised the
Department of Education that the residents would provide a school and if
a teacher was appointed, a Board would be found. Mr. R. Burgess supplied
this list of possible pupils:-

R. Burgess four (4) children
R. Cra·...,ford four ( 4) children
J. Matthews three (3) children
D. Crawford one (1 ) child
F. Mc Donald two (2) children
A. Cameron two (2) children
R. Fletcher one. (1 ) child
A. Chick three (3) children
four (4) children
s. Cl2r-ke
24 CHILDREN
TOTAL