Hawkesbury People and Places
East Kurrajong Public School
Name: East Kurrajong Public School
Reference: p 91
Kurrajong East Public School was established as a provisional school at Buttsworth Swamp opening in March 1878. The school moved up to Bull Ridge in February 1891. In October 1899 the school was renamed Morgan Hills Public School in honour of Member of Parliament, William Morgan. The name reverted to Bull Ridge from September 1901 until January 1922 when it was renamed East Kurrajong Public School. Sometime after this date the school was renamed Kurrajong East in keeping with the naming conventions of the NSW Department of Education.
Enrolments in 1928
This list was compiled by teacher Mr Francis Robinson in the week after the school burnt down destroying enrolment records.
Permanent Pupils:
Eileen Mitchell, Allan Mitchell, Iris Mitchell, Nathan Mitchell, Reggie Mitchell, Reggie Tierney, Edna Forster, Daisy Forster, Keith Forster, Colin Forster, Edmund Forster, Fern Case, Doreen Buttsworth, Austin Buttsworth, Merle Case, Edith Klein, Eric Wade, Ina Wade, Athol Cartwright, Royal Cartwright, Leslie Whalan, Enid Whalan, Gwen Whalan, Olga Whalan, Kenneth Whalan, Thelma Herbert, Fred Herbert, Will Packer, Hazel Packer, Olga Packer, Gladys Packer, Ivy Case, Myrtle Case, Matthew Hall, Harold Hall, Beres Hall, Nellie Packer, Leslie Packer, Lillie Case, Cera Case, Jennie Peck.
Joyce Bottle and Irene London were visitors to the district and would be attending the school for a short time.
Kurrajong East Public School Timeline
Kurrajong East Public School ~ Timeline
| Year | Events |
|---|---|
| 1876 | Application for provisional school at Buttsworth Swamp signed by local residents – 22 pupils from 7 families were pledged to attend the school. |
| 1878 | Buttsworth Swamp Provisional School opened with first teacher Miss Jane Taylor. Slab building measuring 20 feet by 12 feet served the dual purpose of schoolroom on weekdays and Wesleyan Church on Sundays. Furniture from the old Freeman’s Reach school. |
| 1890 | Petition by local residents to re-site the school to Bull Ridge due to population growth along the ridge. |
| 1891 | Provisional school opened on Bull Ridge. |
| 1898 | School upgraded from provisional to public school status. |
| 1899 | School renamed Morgan Public School in honour of the local Member of Parliament, William Morgan. |
| 1901 | Name of school reverted to Bull Ridge Public School. |
| 1907 | Schoolroom extended 11 feet by local builder Alfred Case. |
| 1913 | Workbench supplied by department for the instruction of boys in carpentry. |
| 1922 | Name of school changed to East Kurrajong Public School, now known as Kurrajong East according to departmental conventions. |
| 1928 | School building destroyed by fire on 25 January 1928. Lessons were conducted by teacher Mr Francis Robinson in the teacher’s residence until the new building was completed. |
| 1929 | New building ready for use at the beginning of the school year. Cost of construction £493. |
| 1930 | A severe hailstorm in December 1930 broke panes of glass in the schoolroom and residence. |
| 1935 | Average attendance 10 pupils due to poor economic circumstances of the parents as a result of the Great Depression. Children were needed at home for farm work. |
| 1938 | Colo Shire Council Sanitary Inspectors assessed the cess pits at the school and deemed that they posed a serious heath risk. |
| 1938 | Department inspector commented on the lovely school garden which included an outline map of Australia showing features such as railways. |
| 1942 | An air raid shelter was constructed by the teacher, Mr Fred Lett and some of the parents in case of enemy attack. The hole quickly filled with water. |
| 1950 | Electricity connected to the school by June 1950. A ‘wireless’ radio enabled pupils to listen to school programmes provided by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Electric lights replaced kerosene lamps. |
| 1957 | School closed in March due to low numbers. |
| 1958 | Re-opened May 1958 with George Veicherts as Teacher-in-Charge. |
| 1963 | Telephone connected to the school. Prior to this time the telephone at the Gosper’s across the road from the school was used in an emergency. |
| 1970s | School uniforms introduced for the first time. |
| 1975 | First demountable classroom installed at school. |
| 1978 | School reclassified to 3rd Class school which resulted in the appointment of the first Principal John Burlison. School Centenary – 59 pupils. School badge designed by Phillip Wholohan. |
| 1978 | Building extended to provide additional classroom and loft, school also included one demountable building and brick toilet block – 48 pupils. |
| 1980 | Demountable accommodation provided by department which included principal’s office, library, clerical assistant’s office, storeroom, staff toilets and staffroom. |
| 1987 | Corporal punishment abolished from 1st January. |
| 1993 | Opening of multi-purpose court on 6 November 1993 which was available for hire to local people. |
| 2002 | 151 pupils attending from 100 families. |
| 2003 | 125th Anniversary celebrations held in March. |
| 2004 | Construction of permanent brick building housing two classrooms, new demountable accommodation for office and library provided by department. |