Page 74 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

81.

B UT T AI S C H 0 0 L
(ORIGINAL NAME - STOCKRINGTON SCHOOL)

In 1876 the possiblity of a National School at Buchanan was
raised for a second time. A National School in the Buchanan area had
opened at Oakvale,. two miles north of Buchanan, during early 1870. In
July 1872, there was a teacher problem and this school closed. The 1876
discussions found differences of opinion as to which was the most suitable
location. Mr. James Price sought to have this National School situated
near his homestead at Buttai to provide schooling for the children of
his employees at the boiling-down works. When the Departmental Inspector
declined to make a recommendation and the question of a National School
was 'stale-mated', James Price opened a small private school at Buttai
with a young girl as tutor and teacher. This school had twenty (20) pupils.

The residents at Buttai Creek, early in 1881, applied for the
establishment of a Provisional school. In March 1881, this petition was
declined on the grounds that it was only two miles distant from the ne'.·I
Buchanan Public School and that between Buttai and this school was a good
all-weather road. An application lodged in 1883 was also declined.

In their next petition in 1889, the petitioners put forward
the ~angers and hazards of the line of waterholes along the track to the
Buchanan School. Again the request was denied, as were the petitions
made in 1896 and 1897. However, in October 1898, the Deparbnent of Public
Instruction agreed to establish a school in the Parish of Stockrington
on a site to be selected by Inspector Dwyer.

Mr. Fred Pullen's tender of £68.0.0 ($176.00J for the construction
of the school was accepted in January 1899. Mr. G.W. Akhurst was the
first teacher, taking up in the new school on 8th May 1899. Although
the petition had indicated that there would be only fourteen (14) pupils,
twenty (20) pupils were actually enrolled. The first school at Butta!
was called the Stockrington Provisional School.