THE ONLINE HISTORY OF GULGONG AND SURROUNDING DISTRICTS: HOME RULE SCHOOLS

See also: Home Rule

NEWS ITEMS

1872 - [PROGRESS]

The town grows apace. Not a day passes without fresh arrivals. Good business sites are at a premium and buildings are going up in all directions. Among them a church and a theatre. I heard yesterday of the first school being opened.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 97, 20 July 1872

1872 - Congregational Church Home Rule

A large building has been erected at the Home Rule by members of this denomination to serve the purpose as a church and school. The following were at the meeting Rev. Trevor, Mr. Conway of Mudgee, Rev Smith Wesleyan Minister, Mr. Finchan, Bush Minister and others. The building which was quickly constructed, is of that temporary kind to meet the exigencies of a new rush, never the less it is very comfortable, and has seating for 120 people, the total cost being £85. A small cottage adjoining is occupied by Mr Williams, lay-preacher and school master. His school was opened on Monday.

Source: Gulgong Guardian, Issue No 97, 20 July 1872

1873 - Scholastic

Mr. William Spillane, who has recently been keeping a school at Lowe's Paddock, is about making a commencement at the Royal Shamrock Theatre, which has been kindly tendered without charge by the proprietor, Mr. Sawbridge. Already there are two schools— the Congregational and the Roman Catholic— but the teachers at both of these places, owing to the number of scholars, are overworked, which the opening of a third institution will greatly alleviate.

Source: Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) Sat 13 Dec 1873 Page 2

1875 - Sunday School

We have been requested to state that a Sunday School in connection with the Church of England at Home Rule has been opened at Lowe’s paddock under the supervision of Messrs Thomas and Lowe.

Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS, March 20, 1875

1875 - Home Rule Progress Committee

A meeting of this committee was held last Thursday at Keating’s Hotel, Mr Dwyer in the chair. Present –Messrs Kirkpatrick, Walton, Allum, Keating and Osborne. The various wants of the town and district were discussed at some length, among them the telegraph, cemetery, water supply, Public School and repair of road from the lower end of Main Street to the bridge; and it was finally determined to apply to the Government for 500 pounds for a water supply and for 10 acres of land for a cemetery. The further consideration of the other matters were postponed.

Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS, April 22, 1875

1875 - Destructive Fire at Home Rule

On Thursday, T A Browne, Coroner, conduct an enquiry at Osborne’s Commercial Hotel, Home Rule, touching the origins of the late fire. A jury of twelve men were appointed, and Mr Nicholas Sheridan chosen as foreman. Mr O’Bryne, Inspector of Schools was present to watch the proceedings.

William Thomas, sworn; I am teacher of the Public School, Home Rule, recently burnt down, I left the building after my ordinary work at 4pm; no person resided on the premises nor was there any person in charge; the keys were left with a woman who cleaned out the place; her name Mrs Leroux; at 3.45 I was at the fire, the schoolhouse was then burning; I was called up by an old lady who told me the schoolhouse was burning; I reside about a quarter of a mile east of the town; I never gave any person leave to stop in the building nor do I think any person was in there.

Examined by a Juror; There was no fire nor had Mrs Leroux any reason to light one; she usually swept the building after sundown; the keys are generally in my possession; no other person had any access.

Examined by Sergeant Keenan: The woman Leroux might use her own discretion about the time of cleaning; on Tuesday night there was a heavy storm gathering.

Sergeant James Keenan sworn: I am station at Home Rule; at three minutes to 3am, while in bed at my residence, Christmas Lead, I was awoke by the fire alarm; immediately after the alarm bell rang I saw flames proceeding from a building at the further end of town; I awoke Constable Foster and we at once proceeded to the spot; Constable Evans then joined us; The Public School was then on fire and the house adjoining it, the Fire Brigade were at work playing upon the premises; myself and the officers with the assistance of some civilians pulled down one of the houses for the purpose of preventing the spread of the flames; I have made diligent enquiry and cannot find the cause of the fire; two houses were burnt and the third pulled down; the storm was very high at the time and the lightening which played about the premises was of a red description; I observed no person upon the premises before leaving my night duty.

Constable Edwin Evans: About 3am on the 20th the on hearing the fire alarm I proceeded to the spot and found the school premises on fire and also the premises occupied by William Phillips the flames had not reached the centre of the school house; when I left duty there was no sign of fire nor was there anyone in the street but the watchman who called the hour past twelve o’clock; there was a thunderstorm till 2am; I covered up the arms in the barracks.

Examined by the Coroner: I never saw any person in or about the premises after school hours; the building was composed of weatherboards, bark roof and corrugated iron verandah.

Examined by a Juror: When I first came down I did not notice if the roof had fallen in.

John Callaghan, Nightwatchman: on the 20th about 3am, I noticed the fire, gave the alarm and called Mr Osborne, captain of the Fire Brigade; when I first noticed the fire I was in Main Street calling the

hours; first saw the fire through the window of the school and appeared to be burning at the back of the building; I found the fire was in the back and kitchen; pushed open the door and the calico on the walls and roof was on fire; a few minutes after Mr English came and broke a few palings down for the purpose of ringing the bell; I did not attempt to enter the building, it being a blaze, I am certain it started in the kitchen.

Examined by a Juror: As certain when I first observed the fire it was at the back of the Leroux’s house.

Examined by Mr O’Byrne Inspector of Schools: When I pushed the door of the schoolhouse it was not fastened.

Examined by Juror again: There could have been no fastening as the door yielded to my pressure.

Examined by Mr Byrne again: All the gates of the outer fence were securely fastened; the fire at first was confined to the interior.

Examined by Juror: I do not think the fire occurred in the Public School but in an adjoining kitchen.

Mathew English: About 3am. I was awoke by the watchman giving the fire alarm; I then saw the flame proceeding from the premises, I tried to force the gate but could not, I then pulled done some palings and rang the bell; Mr Osborne, Mrs Ramsay—of the Joint Stock Bank—myself and others got the engine out and played upon the premises; the flames seemed to come from a small room at the back of the building; I think it was a bedroom, the door of which was a little open; when I arrived the watchman was trying to break in one of the doors; there were a number of people present; the door referred to was one belonging to the main building; the small door connected itself with the main building.

Examined by the Sergeant: the main door seemed to fastened.

Examined by a Juror: When I arrived the whole building was in flames; I never heard of any row or ill feeling in the neighbourhood; I believe Mr Thomas was well respected by everybody in the district.

William Phillips: I was the owner of the house adjoining the Public School; it was consumed entirely; I was woken by the thunder at 2am there was no sign of fire; about an hour later was awoken by the alarm of ‘fire’; the fire was in the little room abutting from the main building; did not watch the fire but got my wife and children out; did not see anyone about, my house is only a few feet from the school building.

Ellen Leroux: Corroborated the evidence of the former witness and said the bed where they lay was only two feet from where the fire seemed to originate.

At this stage of the proceedings the jury retired to view the scene

Witness continued: I had no access to the School from the front; I had the key to the front door that day; when entering the school by that door, I could not get out any other way; any person could not get in or out by the windows; they were fastened; where the fire commenced there was a division but no one could get into the small room without coming into the yard; I heard no footsteps but a sheet of bark slipped from the house; and the little dog barked; the bark was from my own kitchen.

James A Osborne: I am captain of the Home Rule Fire Brigade; did not know the exact time he was awoken by the fire alarm, the engine was got out in a few minutes by the brigade and others; the school and four other houses were burning; they were Mr Robert Graham. The next belonging to Mr Mallinson and next Mr Scully; I do not know how the fire commenced but I consider considerable damage was done by Mr Scully knocking out in his excitement the doors and windows, thus giving wind to the flames.

Examined by the Sergeant: I was necessary to pull down one house to save all that side of the street.

The Coroner having summoned up all the evidence adduced without retiring, a verdict of ‘That the building was set on fire by whom or how there was not sufficient evidence to show.’

Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS, October 23, 1875

Home Rule from our Correspondent

The fire in the Public School at Home Rule, raged furiously for more than an hour, destroying the school and three buildings adjoining as far as Greening’s Hotel, there was a steady breeze blowing south-east, fortunately it veered a point of two, too the south, otherwise both sides of the street would have been in danger. The police are deserving of praise—under the command of Sergeant Keenan, who rendered most valuable service. The fire soon reached Mrs Leroux and her family and from there it soon reached Pope’ Bakery. This was a most critical moment, when to hesitate was to be lost. It was there that the calm, steady judgement of fire Captain Osborne came to be observed, he ordered a party of axemen to chop down the house next to Greening’s Hotel, which was the only way to save the town. The men worked with a will and during the time they were at this work, the heat was so intense that the engine had to be kept steadily playing on and around the fire. When all worked so well, it would invidious to single out any particular person or persons.

Source: GULGONG EVENING ARGUS, October 23, 1875