Teacher and schoolchildren outside bark school, Black Lead (?), 1872
Source: SLNSW
NEWS ITEMS
1869 - EDUCATIONAL
The earliest teacher for "Gulgong" (before there was actually a town) was Arthur W Castray, listed in the 1869 Moore's Almanac under "Public Schools - Gulgong". The Australian Almanac lists him again in 1870. Meanwhile, Guntawang School had teachers listed as early as 1861.
1871 - RICH POOR GOLD-FIELD
It may appear paradoxical, yet is nevertheless true, that Gulgong is the richest and yet at the same time the poorest goldfield now existing in New South Wales. As far as riches are concerned, it appears gold to the value of nearly £200,000 has been raised on this field during the last 6 months, but, however rich it has been in gold, yet it is steeped in poverty as regards education. There are at the present time hundreds of children running wild in Gulgong, as ignorant as Kangaroos, without school houses or teachers. It is true there are some bark places called schools, but nothing at all situated to the requirements of the gold fields. The public seem apathetic as regards education, but it is high time they awoke from their apathy; the children of the present generation will be the parents of the next, and it is easy to perceive what will be their state without education. We hope the people of Gulgong will at once see the necessity of educating their children, and lose not one moment in providing a public school worthy of so rich a place, and let it be as rich in educational means as it is in golden treasure.
Source: 'Gulgong Advertiser' of November 2, 1871 as reproduced in Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954) Thu 16 Jun 1932 Page 12INSPECTOR’S General Report upon the condition of the Schools, for the year 1872.
I have the honor to submit, for the information of the Council of Education, my report of the schools inspected, the teachers examined, and the general working of the Public Schools Act in the Mudgee District during the year 1872. In January the district contained forty schools.
...The following gold-fields are within the district: —Hill End, Tambaroora, Ironbarks, Upper Turon, Hargraves, Mudgee, Burrangong, Merrendee, and Gulgong. In all of these places, excepting the last three, the means of education are supplied to a greater or less extent by existing schools. At Gulgong, although a large population has been settled there for more than two years, a Public School remains yet
to be provided. Had one been in existence, over 300 pupils would have been receiving education in it during the past two years. It is true that several private schools are in existence, but these, at best, afford
only very indifferent means of education. I visited some of these schools; in one, I found about thirty-five pupils assembled in a tent, which afforded sitting room for about eight persons; standing room was out of the question. The furniture was slabs fixed on logs, and the children wrote with copy-books and slates on their knees. The day was hot, and there was no ventilation, save through the door of the tent. What with the heat and the vitiated state of the air the place was intolerable. To my mind it would be better to allow these children to develop their physical powers in pure and open air than to have both mind and body stunted in a place like that, under the false impression that they are being educated. This is perhaps an extreme case, but there are others of these venture schools little better. I have referred to this matter to show the necessity of more prompt measures in dealing with the wants of the “diggings.”
The history of the establishment of schools on gold-fields would, in my opinion, point to the necessity of making some alteration in the mode of proceeding with regard to them. The action is generally too slow, often waiting till the field is nearly worked out and the population diminishing. And when the school is established, it sometimes occurs that the course of discovery draws the population from the original centre, leaving the school isolated, and consequently poorly attended.. Windeyer and Ironbarks are examples of this, —good schoolhouses but not centrally situated. Population collects on these fields with great rapidity; everyone is engrossed with his own affairs; everything has to be commenced, and anything like general, organization for providing a school seems out of the question. The idea uppermost in each man’s mind is, “Here to-day, away to-morrow.” In the meantime the children run wild, and grow up uneducated. In view of these circumstances, I am of opinion that it would be attended with great public benefit, if a portion of the fees for miners’ rights, leases, and business licenses on these gold-fields were set apart for the purpose of providing school buildings. In this way the local quota required could at once be obtained and a school placed on the ground nearly as soon as the public-house or theatre. I am further of opinion that the buildings ought nut to be costly, as there is no guarantee that they will be permanently needed. Wooden houses, on the American plan, easily taken to pieces, and shifted, are, I think, worth a trial. I am borne out in this opinion by several intelligent persons with whom I have discussed the matter. If a plan of this sort existed, useful schools might now be in operation at Gulgong, Home Rule, Canadian, Lower Turon, Buckenbah, Burrangong, and Merrendee. The local quota is the point at which all stick.
Source: Report of the Council of Education upon the condition of the public schools. 1872In 1872, Mr and Mrs EH Simmons opened a High School in the Sons of Temperance Hall.
1873 - [NEW SCHOOL]
New Girls School to be opened at Church Hill by Miss. E. Lauchlan, in the premises know as Dr. Ramsay Cottage, Church Hill at the back of the Catholic Church. We cordially recommend this school as a means of having a sound education imparted to their girls by a competent teacher.
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 180, 7 May 1873
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 181, 10 May 1873
1873 - THE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The building now in course of erection near Mr. Aldridge's paddock, for the purpose of a Public School, is rapidly approaching completion, and when finished, will be the principal and most commodious in the district The dimensions are as follows:- Boys' and girls' schoolrooms, each 42 feet by 17 feet; classrooms, 17 feet by 12 feet; infants' room, 23 feet by 17 feet. The walls at 11 feet in height in the clear. The work is being performed in a highly satisfactory manner by Mr. Charles Sillington, the contractor. The plans were prepared by the architect to the Council of Education, and Mr. Hartley, our local architect, has the superintendence of the work. The stonework and plates are fine specimens of rouble masonry, showing how well the stone procurable in the immediate neighbourhood would do for the purposes of building churches and other public buildings particularly where durability and architectural beauty are required.
Miss Richards with her pupils in front of the Church of England, Gulgong, 1872
Source: SLNSW
The teacher is Miss Elizabeth Richards. The girls' school was conducted in the Church.
Source: Information supplied by B.Baldwin (July 2006)
Source: Information supplied by B.Baldwin (July 2006)
Church of England School, teacher & children, Gulgong, 1872
Source: SLNSW
Girls and teachers outside the Church of England church on Red Hill [sic. Church Hill]. The school for girls was conducted in the church by Miss Elizabeth Richards.
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis Research, Gulgong (Apr 2007)
Miss Richards with her pupils in front of the Church of England, Gulgong
Source: SLNSW
Source: Information supplied by Baldwin & Davis, Research Gulgong (July 2006)
Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 60, 13 March 1872
_______________________________
Former Catholic Church used as the Catholic School (adjacent to the new Catholic Church within the Church reserve), with teacher James Dillon, left
Source: SLNSW
This building has been identified as the Union Church in several publications in and outside of Gulgong [it isn't]. There are only a few references to the Union Church in the very early days of Gulgong, supposedly erected by the miners because the other major religions had not established churches at that time. The Union Church was built by the miners between Herbert Street and Medley Streets about where Anzac Park is today. The church was used by all religions until they built churches of their own, and the last to use it were the Congregationalists until their church was built in Mayne Street in January 1872.
In this photograph (above) the Church of England church can be seen to the right on Church Hill, and also the paling fence which enclosed the Catholic Church reserve. A clearer view of the position of the building can be seen in the panoramic photo at Home & Away - 38956. When the new Catholic Church was completed in December 1871 the old church became the Catholic School building. The man on the left is John Dillon the school teacher.
Source: Note supplied by Baldwin & Davis, research Gulgong (Aug 2006)
Detail: Former Catholic Church used as the Catholic School (adjacent to the new Catholic Church within the Church reserve), with teacher James Dillon, left
Source: SLNSW
1874 - [SCHOOL INSPECTIONS - MUDGEE DISTRICT]
Detailed Statement of the Condition of Schools in the Mudgee District, examined during the year 1874.
I. — PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
...
Gulgong (Boys —V.) : —General inspection, 16th and 17th July.
Numbers enrolled: —Boys, 69.
Numbers present: —Boys, 62.
Gulgong (Girls —V.): —General inspection, 20th and 21st July.
Number enrolled :—Girls, 71.
Number present: —Girls, 63.
Gulgong (Infants —V.) :—General inspection, 17th and 21st July.
Numbers enrolled:—Boys, 44 ; girls, 25; total, 69.
Numbers present:—Boys, 36; girls, 22 ; total, 58.
1875 - EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
...
Gulgong (Boys —V.) : —General inspection, 16th and 17th July.
Numbers enrolled: —Boys, 69.
Numbers present: —Boys, 62.
This is a new school in excellent material condition, suitably furnished, and possessing a good supply of working materials. As I have found on other diggings, the punctuality and regularity cannot be commended. The general discipline may be regarded as fair; it would be better were it not for the inadequacy of the teaching staff. The prescribed subjects are taught; the classification is appropriate, the methods are intelligent, and the attainments tolerable.
Gulgong (Girls —V.): —General inspection, 20th and 21st July.
Number enrolled :—Girls, 71.
Number present: —Girls, 63.
In material condition and organization this school is similar to the boys department. About 70 per cent. of the pupils enrolled attend regularly; punctuality is bad. Cleanliness is satisfactory, and in other respects the discipline is passable. All the prescribed subjects are taught; the classification is pretty good; the instruction is properly regulated, and the methods, though not of high order, are industriously applied. The proficiency exceeds tolerable.
Gulgong (Infants —V.) :—General inspection, 17th and 21st July.
Numbers enrolled:—Boys, 44 ; girls, 25; total, 69.
Numbers present:—Boys, 36; girls, 22 ; total, 58.
The material condition of this school is excellent; it is fairly furnished, and well supplied with requisites for teaching. About five-eighths of the pupils enrolled attend regularly; punctuality is bad. The school presents a clean and tidy appearance. The general discipline may be stated as fair. All the subjects for an infants school are taught. Some minor defects are noticeable in the classification. The instruction is properly regulated, and the methods, which are suitable, are applied with fair zeal and industry. The attainments range from moderate to tolerable.
1875 - Education
The subject of educating children commanded much attention and every means afforded for the object. This has been a common feature upon every goldfield opened in the colonies. There are now two schools the cost of which are supplemented by Government appropriation, and two others supported by contributions from tuition. The public school under the superintendence of Mr Farr, has been in existence about two years and the number of children attending has averaged five hundred. Mr Farr is a thoroughly qualified gentleman and has accomplished assistants. The school house is located in a healthy place. The Catholic School is situated in the northern brow of the hill reaching to the town. It is under the charge of Mr and Mrs George Copins. This has about the same number of scholars attending as the Public School. There are other schools in the town that deserve mention than appears in our advertising columns. We allude to ‘Carlton Cottage’ and the one recently opened by Mr Parker.
Source: Gulgong Evening Argus, August 7, 1875
1875 - EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS
Mudgee District
Public Schools
- Guntawang - A G Hamilton
- Gulgong - H Farr
Roman Catholic Schools
- Gulgong - G Copas
Source: The Australian almanac. (1875)
1878 - Catholic Education the Diocese of Bathurst
In 1878 the Catholic primary school in Gulgong had 106 pupils attending. The school was "certified under the Council of Education". In other towns the schools were under the Sisters of Mercy or the Sisters of St Joseph.
A non-certified school, under lay teachers, operated at Home Rule with an attendance of 40 pupils.
1880 - Diocese of Bathurst
Local schools under secular teachers in the Bathurst Diocese
- Goolma - 38
- Gulgong, mixed - 161
- Home rule - 45
1880 - BISHOP'S VISIT
1889 - [MINISTERIAL VISIT]Gulgong—His Lordship arrived at Gulgong on Friday, the 13th ult., and was met some distance from town by a very numerous body of persons of every rank of society. Within a mile of the town, a very large procession, comprising the school children carrying beautiful banners, and their parents, with many others of the general public, was awaiting his arrival...
Source: The Record. Vol. 4 No. 17 (1 September 1880)The Ministers for Education and Mines arrived this morning, having been driven from Biraganbill by Mr Richard Rouse. The Ministers were accompanied by Messrs R. Black and John Haines, Ms L A , and the Mayors of Mudgee and Cudgegong. The party was met at Guntawang by the principal residents of Gulgong, and escorted into the town. The visitors were taken first to Flirtation Hill, whence they obtained a splendid view of the district. Thence they were driven to the Public school where the board pointed out to the Ministers the necessity for erecting a new school, as the accommodation afforded by the present structure was insufficient, and the building situated on a damp site. Mr Carruthers delivered an address to the children. A half holiday was granted to the scholars.
