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Chopin

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Shellharbour Village

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Hall, Richard

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Shellharbour Public School

DESCRIPTION

NameShellharbour Public SchoolTypeBuildingSchoolGeolocation^[1] Last edited by: Will Chittick

DescriptionThe first National School was opened in Shellharbour in early 1859. Initially situated [near the later known Baxter’s Lane], it was a slab built building, eighteen feet square, calico or hessian lined and included a teacher residence. It seated about 60 children. The teacher in charge was thirty two year old Henry Bonnar.

The inspector’s report of the school on 18 November 1859 conceded that ‘the material state of the school is not wholly satisfactory’ but ‘its moral character appears very promising’ with the pupils being ‘punctual, regular, tolerably clean and orderly’. Methods were ‘clear and judicious’ although they ‘bear too much of the individual character’. The pupils had made ‘satisfactory advances from their state of ignorance on entering the school’.

In 1862 Richard Hall replaced Henry Bonnar and saw the transference of the school to its present site in Mary Street Street in 1870-71.

The school with a residence attached was constructed of sandstone blocks and was built on the site of the present school car park.

The original acre of land was a donation from T.A. Reddall. Further parcels of land were added to the school in 1891, 1947, 1949 and 1957.

After extensions and renovations, by the beginning of the twentieth century, the school was already inadequate and in 1929 the ‘new school’ was built. It consisted of three classrooms, a connecting hallway, a storage area (which was later used as a classroom) and an office.

The principal’s residence was built separately but with close proximity to the school.

The old school was pulled down and the sandstone blocks were used in the construction of a house at Boolwaroo Parade.

From 1902 until 1929, Frederick Chopin, a close relative of the composer, became the longest serving principal of Shellharbour Public School.

Due to the rapid growth in pupil numbers at times in the school's history, particularly in the late 1920's, the 1950's and 60's, Shellharbour Public School has used the School of Arts building, which was originally directly across the road from the school’s car park. The Scout Hall and the Anglican Church were borrowed for classrooms.

Over the years there have been other buildings and features added to, and removed from the school, including portable and permanent classrooms, a weather shed, a saddle shed, water tanks, gardens, a sun dial and toilets.

During the World War Two years, zig zag trenches were dug in the back playground due to fear of invasion.

In the early 1960's and again in 1992 reconstruction and extensions of the school were carried out. In 1992 the original building was changed into the administration block and extra classrooms, amenities, a hall and canteen, a netball court and an outdoor learning centre were built.

The fig tree, which is of great pride to the school, and which was believed to have been planted by Cliff East in 1910, became the focal point of the school. It is said that the seedling came from Dunster’s Hill.

During its infancy, Shellharbour Public School experienced problems, such as difficulties attaining and keeping young trainee and pupil teachers and later sewing teachers, getting adequate water supplies, securing land to parallel its growth and the difficulties keeping the student numbers stable and the school hours reasonable.

Parents of children living on the surrounding farms expected the children to help them and the long distances the pupils needed to travel to school often restricted them from regular attendance.

The primary problems were alleviated in the early years of the twentieth century by introducing conveyancing and shortening the school day.

Information - Article contributed by Rose-Anne Riddington.

External LinkShellharbour School 1918Local Intelligence 1870New Public School at Shellharbour 1870Shellharbour School New Building Opened 1929The Old School at Shellharbour 1947

Photograph

Shellharbour Public School

Shellharbour Public School Fourth Class 1958

Shellharbour Public School

Shellharbour Public School 2nd and 3rd Class 1940

Shellharbour Public School 1938

Shellharbour Public SChool

Shellharbour Primary School 10 Years League

Shellharbour Primary School 5A

Shellharbour Public School 1B

Shellharbour Primary School Junior Boys Softball

Shellharbour Public School Seniors 1911

Shellharbour Primary School 3A

Shellharbour Public School 3rd - 4th class 1946

Shellharbour Public School class beside an Illawarra Flame Tree planted in 1996

Ben Dove in Shellharbour Public School yard

Shellharbour Public School

Shellharbour Public School 1913

Shellharbour Public School Winners PSAAA Cricket Competition

Shellharbour Public School 1890

Shellharbour School class 1933 VI Boys

Shellharbour Public School class VVI 1932 Boys and Girls

Object

Patriotic Letter by Prince Edward VIII to School Children

Shellharbour Public School Centenary Booklet

Minutes Of Teachers Meeting Shellharbour

Centenary of Shellharbour 1859-1959 School Assignment

Document

Patriotic Letter by Prince Edward VIII to School Children

Shellharbour Public School Centenary Booklet

Map or Plan

Plan for Resumption of Land for Shellharbour Public School

Subdivision of JH Dearnes Land Shellharbour Village

Person

Jones, Evan Thomas

Hall, Richard

Shellharbour Public School 1871.

Heritage Information

Heritage NSW LinkState Heritage Inventory Sheet Last edited by: Erin Tierney

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CollectionPlacesFamilyChopinLocalityShellharbour VillagePersonHall, Richard

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Shellharbour Public School