History of the primary school

 

SCHOOL - 20th August 1871-1940

On the 29th April 1871, an application for the establishment of a Public School at Cargo was lodged with the Council of Education, a forerunner of the Department of Education. The local committee sponsoring the application had the following members:

George Gardiner Miner Church of England

James Thompson Miner Presbyterian

Edward Hogan Miner Roman Catholic

Gals Staffan Miner Church of England

John Walters Miner Church of England

Richard Hicks Miner Church of England

Charles Edwards Miner Church of England

John Grounds Storekeeper Church of England

The Secretary was Richard Hicks and the Treasurer John Grounds.

There were reported to be 121 children living in the vicinity of Cargo and the nearest school was Cadia Public.

It was proposed to hold lessons in the local Church of England, a delapidated building which was considered by the church authorities to be temporary premises only.

It was a stringbark building, 30' x 20' and was neither floored or properly lit. The openings in the walls, which served as windows, were being filled with calico. The ground was neither fenced nor provided with closets. There was no school furniture. The council of Education agreed to the building being used for school work only on condition that the committee within three months erect closets, floor the building and place suitable windows in the building. The council leased the building for five years and the school became a Public School on the 20th August 1871.

The inspector who visited the school on 1st May 1872 found 57 children present. At the time 62 children were enrolled. The inspector filed the following report.

"The school is conducted in a bark building, the roof of which is in need of repair. There is no residence for the teacher. The school room is well furnished, but the playground is not enclosed. The pupils are fairly orderly and attentive, self reliant, and correct in answering. The instruction is fairly regulated

. All the subjects prescribed are taught and the teaching is careful and industrious. The discipline is healthy and the average proficiency is fair."

The following men joined the first school board:

Henry Cuffe Wall (J.P) Squatter Church of England

John Grant Squatter Roman Catholic

Thomas Mackay Miner Roman Catholic

James Hamilton Miner Roman Catholic

John Woodcock Grounds Storekeeper Church of England

Nicholas Curry Miner Roman Catholic

Charles Hunt Miner Church of England

These men joined the board in July 1871:

Robert Hutton Storekeeper Church of England

George Gardiner Miner Church of England

William O'Connor Miner Roman Catholic

James Power Storekeeper/Publican Roman Catholic

The church authorities decided to pull down the old church when the Council of Education's lease expired and it is presumed that a new one was erected. Rather than continue to rely on rented premises the Council of Education took the decision in 1873 to erect new vested buildings. It was thought that the population of the area was permanent enough to warrant this. The mines were likely to be open for a number of years, and more and more Free selectors were arriving and beginning to farm.

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