Page 78 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

85.

CESSNOCK SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NOS. - 5/15348 TO

- 5/15355 INCLUSIVE

A formal application for the establishment of a Public School
at Cessnock was sent to the National Board of Education on 24th
September 1858, on behalf of the local residents. It was signed by
Stephenson Moore, Farmer; Bernard McGrane, Farmer; James Mulvehill,
Horse Dealer (later Store-Keeper and Post Master); Michael Carroll,
Licensed Victualler; and David Wilson, Toll-Keeper. It was proposed
that two front rooms of a house owned by 'Joss Rose' should be rented
as the schoolhouse.

Inspector W. Mc Intyre made an examination of the area and
on 10th January 1859, furnished this report to his superiors:-

"Cessnock, Parish of Pokolbin, Police District of
Maitland, County of Northumberland. The nearest
school is at Ellalong. The settlers at Cessnock
are chiefly farmers, poor, hard-working ~ men; but the
greater numbers are freeholders. The proposed
schoolhouse is constructed of slabs roofed with bark,
with a brick floor and good doors and windows. There
is a W.C. The whole building is thirty (30) feet
long by twenty-two (22) feet wide and nine (9) feet
high. It was erected by Mr. Watson of Ellalong.
Dinensions of the classroom are thirty (30) feet by
thirteen (13) feet, being the two front rooms thrown
into one. It is not properly warmed or ventilated.
The school building is to be· used solely for school
purposes, the rear portion will not be occupied.

The Local Cessnock School Board I recommend are:-

Stephen Moore
Bernard McGrain
James Mulvehill