Bullridge Provisional School Teacher's Residence

The teacher’s residence at Bullridge was completed within the grounds of the now named Kurrajong East Public School in 1919. Teachers appointed to small schools in the 19th century had to find their own accommodation. In places such as Buttsworth Swamp and East Kurrajong lodgings were hard to find and conditions were often primitive, uncomfortable and sometimes several miles from the school.

For example, in 1880 Mr Robert McPhail, the teacher at nearby Buttsworth Swamp applied for rent assistance from the Department. The only house he could find was some distance from the school. He later asked both the Department and parents for a house to be erected but neither party was interested in providing a cottage for use by the teacher.

The teacher’s residence as it was in February 2008. Cathy McHardy

In 1891, a new school opened on East Kurrajong Road, replacing the one at Buttsworth Swamp and was named Bullridge Provisional School. In 1892, the teacher Miss Gibson was lucky enough to find a cottage to rent about a mile from the school. In 1894 Henry Green offered to add a room for the teacher on to his home at a cost of £14 but later withdrew his offer giving no explanation for the change of heart. Some teachers were able to board with local families. Popular teachers such as Miss Elizabeth Colvin were provided with accommodation by the community. Mr Leggatt added a room onto his own home for her in May 1898.

It was not until 1919 that the Department approved the erection of a teacher’s residence at Bullridge school. The cottage was constructed at a cost of cost £750. It was located in the approximate position of the present school tennis court. The building was erected by A Fenton and included a 5 foot 6 inch bath. The contract was signed on the 23 April 1919 and the date of completion was the 9 September that year. The little cottage comprised two bedrooms which opened with French doors onto the front verandah, a dining room and kitchen with small pantry as well as an enclosed back verandah for use as a bathroom and laundry area. The Department also provided a shed for the teacher’s sulky in November 1919.

Plan of the teacher’s residence at Bullridge Provisional School drawn in 1914 and approved for construction in 1919. From the School File for Bullridge Provisional School, State Archives and Records of NSW

In January 1928, the little weatherboard school burnt to the ground and the residence was used as the school with the partition removed down the centre of the building to allow room for desks. The Department attempted to charge Mr Robinson rent for the residence even though he was not living there and the building was in use as a temporary school room. In 1958 the teacher’s residence was sold to a member of the Wade family and was moved to the other side of the school building where it still stands today.

See also East Kurrajong Public School, Buttsworth Swamp Provisional School.

State Archives Collection (NSW) holds School Files for the above schools as well as records of teachers who were appointed to the school - https://mhnsw.au/collections/state-archives-collection/

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