From provisional school
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Blacktown Public School class of 1918 . Copyright Blacktown Memories collection .
It ’ s one of Blacktown ’ s early settlement buildings that was the hub of the school community from as early as 1871 .
The renovated and last remaining main section of the Blacktown Public School building , dwarfed by the rise and clutter of the encroaching central business district , lives on in Flushcombe Road as the Visitor Information and Heritage Centre .
A dig through the NSW State Records archives , as well as Blacktown City Libraries , in particular the Blacktown Memories collection , shows a fascinating history of a school which began with at least 15 students as the Blacktown Provisional School ( 1871-1877 ) and then changed to Blacktown Public School ( 1877-1990 ) when it grew to more than 25 students .
According to NSW State Records , Blacktown Provisional School in the county of Cumberland was established in August 1871 .
Provisional Schools first emerged in 1867 and were established in areas where at least 15 children , but fewer than the 25 required for a public school , could be expected to attend .
Parents provided the building and furniture , while the Council of Education or later the Department of Education paid the teacher and supplied the books and equipment . The school was converted into a public school in October 1877 , which is a basic elementary school within the NSW education system .
The following is archived and recorded by Trove from The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate ( Parramatta ) Published Wednesday , 26 July 1939 , p14 ( in part it reads ):
£ 108 a year Headmaster ’ s Salary Blacktown ’ s First School
To dispense education to 65 children , Blacktown ’ s first headmaster was paid the princely salary of £ 108 a year . Yellowed by the years , covered with dust , “ return forms ’’ recently discovered in the archives of a cupboard at the Blacktown public school disclose conditions under which Blacktown ’ s first headmaster worked .
The careful copperplate signature at the foot of each form reveals that the first headmaster at the “ Board School ” was George A . McColly . The first form bears the date 1877 .
The site of Blacktown ’ s first school was on the corner of Blacktown and Flushcombe Roads , now occupied by Bussell ’ s store . As to when this school was established , record is hazy .
In ’ 77 however , the board school was opened in Flushcombe Road . The original brick building forms part of the present public school .
Mr McColly was assisted by his wife . Mrs McColly , however died three years after the school commenced . The headmaster then enlisted as his assistant Mrs Leabon .
In 1882 , Mr McColly was succeeded by Mr John Mills and his wife . Increased enrolment necessitated an additional teacher . She was Miss Florence Cavanough , who received £ 24 a year .
Thomas Fitzsimons , a member of the school board … owned the ground on which the school was built . According to the returns , the area of two acres was valued at £ 40 !
The returns reveal that the school building was valued at £ 655 , the school residence at £ 200 and furniture and appointments at £ 15 .
Attendance at the Blacktown school is now 380 . Before the school was established at Doonside recently , it was 480 . It has eight teachers .
Here are attendance figures for other schools in Blacktown Shire 50 years ago ; Seven Hills 58 , Prospect 66 , Toongabbie 34 .
Blacktown Public School was closed in December 1990 . All its associated buildings were demolished and much of its grounds are now part of Westpoint .
Blacktown Public School c . 1910 . Copyright Blacktown City Libraries .
24 ISSUE 08 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT