Page 87 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

94.

CE S S N 0 C K SCH0 0 L

Department refused to approve the grant.

In 1897 it was decided to improve the residence. Another
bedroom was added. It was built of weatherboard and the ceiling and
wall-lining was of pine. The work was done by Mr. E.J. Woodland for
£43.0.0 ($86.00). A little later in the year, Mr. A.J. Ingle of Pokolbin
erected a wash-house at a cost of £15.15.0 ($31 .50). The following year,
the weathershed was again re-newed, this time on a larger scale. The
contractor was Mr. E.J. Woodlands and the cost was £42.10.0 ($85.00).

In November 1901, Mr. Henry Brown, the son of the Chairman,
Mr. George Brown, became the teacher. During this period '1901' and
'1902' was the big 'drought'. No drinking water was available within
two (2) miles of the Cessnock School. Water had to be carted some
distance.

Soon after this year, Cessnock was transformed with the
development of the ''COAL INDUSTRY''. With the opening of Aberdare
Colliery and Aberdare Extended Colliery, the population grew rapidly.
School enrolments in 1904 increased from forty-eight (48) to sixty-
nine (69). During 1905, land sub-divisions and the land auction sales
indicated that an influx of people was imminent. It was obvious that
the school accommodation and the existing school building was totally
inadequate. A suggestion was made that an additional room ten (10)
feet by ten (10) feet would meet the demand. By the end of 1905 it
was evident that this school site was no longer central. It was
decided by the Department that a new school would have to be ·built
nearer the centre of the growing town. At this time there were two
main centres of population in Cessnock. One was the old Cessnock
Village at the junction of Main Street and Allandale Road. The other
was where new homes were being built near the coalmines and railway
stations. The Department finally decided on the present Cessnock
Primary School site of some five and a quar~er (5~) acres to serve
all areas. It was thought a larger school was more desirable than
two smaller ones.