Weston Public School

On 25 Jul 1903, the Department of Public Instruction purchased land from James Weston and Jane Swanson for £100 for the construction of a school consisting of a single classroom, a small hat room and an open verandah...

WESTON PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENED 1905

WESTON SCHOOL FIRE 1913

NEW WESTON SCHOOL BUILDING COMPLETED 1916

WESTON SCHOOL HEADMASTER'S RESIDENCE

WESTON INFANTS SCHOOL

A SELECTION OF WESTON SCHOOL CLASS PHOTOS

Weston Public School - opened 1916

Sixth St., Weston NSW

~ Unknown Photographer

Weston Infants School- opened in 1928

Sixth St., Weston NSW

~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray

Welcome! This page is for historical data and photographs only. To keep up-to-date with the wonderful schools in Weston NSW, please visit their website: Weston Public Schools See also: Then & Now - Heritage

Weston School is the white building at centre of the photograph

Above: The Weston School is the white building at centre in far distance.

~ Coalfields Heritage Group

14 Jul 1903: The Weston Progress Committee was elected.

The executive were: (Pres) Morris Williams; (Sec) W Walters; (Treas) Mr Butler; (Committee): J Jones; George Payne; George Gillard; William Allen; Steve Hubbock.

The estate owners granted the Weston township land to build a School of Arts, and the Progress Committee were advocating for a Post Office and school since the nearest school was two miles away.

25 Jul 1903: The Department of Public Instruction purchased land from James Weston and Jane Swanson for $200. A school consisting of a single classroom, a small hat room and an open verandah was built by contractor, Henry Russell.

16 Sep 1903: William Walters wrote several letters during 1903 applying to have a school established at Weston. The following, dated 16 Sep 1903, reveals his sense of urgency. The town population was increasing rapidly and children were described as 'running wild' :

Above: The letter written by William Walters 16 Sep 1903

expressing the urgency for a school in Weston.

WESTON PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENED 1905

1905: The first Weston School commenced in 1905 and was built by contractor Henry Russell. The school opened on 23 January 1905 and the first teacher was James McKay. However he reported that the school had seating for 65 pupils and 151 pupils enrolled on the first day. He also complained that the school had no lavatory provisions. Classes had to be held in local halls and the population continued to grow. The building was extended in 1906 and 1908 and in 1910 an Infants Department was formed. At this time the school had seven teachers and 377 pupils.

1910: In 1910, the Infants Department of the Weston School was established. At this time the school had seven teachers and 377 pupils.

WESTON SCHOOL FIRE 1913

Above: Weston School Fire - 1913

~ James Wallwork

Above: Weston School Fire -1913

~ IGUIW - Callaghan Collection

1913: On Sunday 21st December, 1913, the school building was destroyed by fire. Even the joint effort of the Kurri Kurri Fire Brigade of nine Firemen and the Weston .

1915: The building of a new brick building was commenced in 1915 and was finally completed and occupied on 1st May, 1916. The new school had 8 classrooms, a Headmaster's room and a Staff Room. There were also two weather sheds and two separate sets of lavatories.

NEW WESTON SCHOOL BUILDING COMPLETED 1916

Weston School in Sixth Street Weston NSW

Above: Weston Primary School

~ Alex Frame

WESTON SCHOOL HEADMASTER'S RESIDENCE

Weston NSWhe former Headmaster's residence 43 Eighth Street Weston. This Headmaster's residence was purchased in 1921.

Above: The former Headmaster's residence 43 Eighth Street Weston.

This Headmaster's residence was purchased in 1921. It was once occupied by Headmaster H. S. Holt and was near the creek but on the opposite side of the creek to the school. This residence originally had a vacant block on each side. The one with the horses in the photo following used to be a tennis court and the other block used to be an orchard.

~ Elizabeth (Holt) Clark

1920s: After the First World War many new people came to settle in the area and by 1920 there were 346 primary pupils and 155 infants. An indignation Meeting was held at Weston's Thomas' Hall to protest at the inadequate state of the Weston Public School.

1921: In 1921 a weatherboard house in Eighth Street was purchased to be the Headmaster's residence (see photograph above).

1922: In 1922, two classrooms and a verandah and balcony were added to the school building.

1925: In 1925 the first Kindergarten class was established. Primary numbers continued to increase and so, once again, portable classrooms had to be brought in. In 1926 land was purchased from Jane Yates and William Morgan for more playground.

1928: By early 1928 school enrolments were 385 pupils in the primary school with a staff of seven teachers and 253 pupils in the infants school with five teachers. A new Infants building was built ready for the 1929 school year.

WESTON INFANTS SCHOOL

Above: Weston Infants School - built in 1928

~ Glennis (Wilkinson) Gray

1937: Electricity was connected to Weston School on 3rd December, 1937.

1945: In 1945 more land was purchased for playground. During February, 1945, the Weston Public School Mothers' Club funded the installation of electricity to Weston School. A portion of the playground was asphalted in 1946.

Above: Former Headmaster of Weston School, Mr. Hilding S. Holt

Mr. Holt was headmaster in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950.

The horses belonged to the Lumsden family of Eighth Street, Weston. The residence had vacant blocks so the horses were bought to the Headmaster's residence to help keep the grass down.

~ Elizabeth (Holt) Clark

1966: A new toilet and ablutions block was built in 1966.

1989: In 1989 the building known as the Infants block was extended to provide administration area, offices and a staffroom.

1996: In 1996 work commenced on a new Library and Hall as well as refurbishment of the whole school.

The new buildings were officially opened by Senator John Tierney in March 2000.

2000: In 2000 enrolment was 230 students in 8 classes.

2010: In 2010 there were 187 students in the school and 7 classes.

Headmasters and Principals at Weston Public School have been:

James McKay - 1905-1910
Fred Lewis - 1910-1915
Herbert Buttsworth - 1922-1924
Sidney Hobson - 1924-1926
Frank Sherring - 1926-1929
Hector Lang - 1929-1931
Horace Beavis - 1931
Robert Somerville - 1931-1938
Ernest Byrne - 1938-1939
Roy Devine - 1939-1944
Leonard Kaye - 1944-1945
Hilding Holt - 1945-1951
Ronald Bell - 1951-1955
Robert Wallschuzky - 1955-1968
Tressler Harvey - 1968-1975
Arthur E. Harris - 1975-1979
David M. Davies - 1979-1987
William Stewart - 1987-1992
Peter Chapman - 1992-1996
Allan Withers - 1996-2010

Bibliography

PARKES, W.S. , COMERFORD, JIM & LAKE, DR MAX - "Mines, Wines & People" STATE RECORDS NSW

A SELECTION OF WESTON SCHOOL CLASS PHOTOS

Above: Weston Infants c.1916-17. The brick school building was completed in 1916

~ James Wallwork

Above: Weston Public School - Class 1 - About 1920, possibly earlier.

~ Barbara Phoenix Andrews

Above: Weston Public School - Lower First Class - About 1920, possibly earlier.

~ Barbara Phoenix Andrews

Above: Weston School class photo taken about 1923

Violet London is centre front, sitting between the children with their arms over the back of the chairs.

~ Kevin Parsons

Above: Weston Primary School - Class 1A 1931

~ John Forster & Jenny (Jean) Goodall nee Forster

Above: Weston Kindergarten - 1933

Back L-R: Johnny Young, Geoff Cox, Bill Conden, Russ Cook, Bill Stanbridge, [?), Alec Frame

Middle L-R: Nev Austin, June Frame, [?), Veronica Walters, {? Hancock, Joyce Widdrington, Flo Joyce

Front: (?), (?), (?), Jean Young, (?)

~. https://www.flickr.com/photos/

Above: Weston Kindergarten ? 1933

Back Row: 1st on left, Stan Beverley

~ Jennifer Drylie

Above: Weston Kindergarten - 1934

John Lewis is in the back row, 4th from the right and wearing a bow tie. His grandfather, also John Lewis, lived on Sawyers Gully Road near Gingers Lane.

Can you name others? If so, please contact Wayne Proctor through the Facebook group:

I grew up in Weston

~. Wayne Proctor

Above: Weston School - Class 1B - 1934

Back Row L-R: ? ; John Young; ? ; Alex Frame; Tom Gollan; ? ; John Beatty; ? Homes; Billy Campbell

3rd Row L-R: ? ; ? ; June Frame; ? ; ? ; Betty Johnson; ? ; Daphne Wylie; Enid Prescott; Grace Kylie

2nd Row L-R: Kenny Rouse; ? ; Brian Lee; Hubert Boyce; Gordon Bailey; Harry Matthews; Jimmy Robson; ? ; Geoff Cox; Stewart Blake

Front L-R: ? ; ? ; ? ; ? ; ? ; ?; ?; Jean Young; ?

~ Alex Frame

Above: Weston School - 1st Class - 1935

~ Jennifer Drylie

Above: Weston Public School - c.1938

~ Lynne Kermode

(Many names not known. Can you help? Please contact Lynne Kermode)

Above: Weston School

~ Alex Frame

Above: Weston Public School - No date

Back L-R: A. Robinson; D. Bevis; W. Houston; R. Patterson; G. Green; G. Solway; A. Williams; E. Stoker; G. Douglas; J. Cook

3rd Row L-R: N. Findlay; C. Tilley; E. Evans; M. Williams; E. Graham; B. Taylor; H. Mitchell; E. Aubin; S. McDonald; M. Hogg

2nd Row L-R: E. Westoe; E. Hindhaugh; B. Bradley; R. Wallace; F. Elsley; E. Tickle; L. Fisher; E. McKinnon; N. Blair; E. Noble

Front L-R: G. Standbridge; A. Harrod

~ Peter Williams

Above: Weston Public School - 1st Class - 1939

~ Dawn (Frame) O'Connor

Above: Weston Public School - 3rd Class - 1939

~ Les Bender

Above: Weston Public School - 3rd Class - 1939

Back L-R: L. Blatherwick; A Harrod; G. Douglas; H. Wells; J. Cook; A. Williams; A Priest; W. Houston; A. Robinson; E. Stoker; D. Bevis; G. Standbridge; ?

3rd L-R: A. Lemarn; R. Patterson; C. Tilley; R. Wallace; Y. Kirkwood; M. Hogg; A. Henderson; B. Taylor; E. Evans; A. Hindmarsh; G. Solway; T. Evans

2nd L-R: E. McKinnon; E. Tickle; E. Noble; L. Fisher; F. Smith; N. Pullar; N. Findlay; J. Ramage; E. Aubin; N. Hadfield; E. Graham

Front L-R: J. Boyce; N. Blair; E. Westoe; E. Hindmarsh; M. Williams; B. Bradley; F. Elsley; H. Mitchell

~ Peter Williams

Above: Weston Public School - 2nd Class - 1940

~ Dawn (Frame) O'Connor

Above: Weston Public School - 4th Class - 1940

Back L-R: J. Cook; T. McGarva; A. Harrod; A. Robinson; L. Blatherwick; T. Hall; G. Standbridge; A. Hindmarsh; D. Bevis; A. Priest; R. Patterson

3rd Row L-R: J. Ramage; A. Henderson; N. Findley; N. Blair; F. Smith; B. Bradley; L. Fisher; R. Wallace; B. Devine; E. Aubin; E. Graham; N. Hadfield; Y. Kirkwood

2nd Row L-R: E. Hindhaugh; C. Tilley; F. Elsley; E. McKinnon; E. Westoe; E. Noble; B. Taylor; H. Mitchell; E. Tickle; E. Evans; N. Pullar; J. Boyce; M. Williams

Front L-R: G. Solway; H. Wells; A. Williams; E. Stoker; W. Houston; G. Douglas

~ Peter Williams

Above: Weston Public School - 3rd Class - 1941

~ Dawn (Frame) O'Connor

Above: Weston Public School - Class 5B - 1941

Back L-R: A. Foster; A. Dunn; N. Rutherford; D. Bevis; A. Robinson; J. Crump; A. Hindmarsh; A. Priest; T. Evans; E. Stoker

3rd Row L-R: F. Wiseman; N. Blair; E. Evans; N. Pullar; B. Taylor; F. Smith; E. Noble; B. Bradley; L. Fisher; E. McKinnon

2nd Row L-R: T. Hall; A. Williams; E. Tickle; J. Boyce; E. Hindhaugh; M. Williams; H. Mitchell; E. Westoe; G. Standbridge; W. Houston

Front L-R: H. Wells; G. Solway

~ Peter Williams

Above: Weston Public School - 4th Class - 1946

Some students have been identified.

Front Row: 3rd from LHS, Rosemary Turnbull. 3rd from RHS, Stella Emery.

Second Row from front: RHS sitting on chair, Mavis LeMarne. 5th from RHS, Jean Wylie.

Third Row from front: 4th from RHS, Ivy Gillard.

~ Narelle Dunn

Above: Weston Public School - 6A - 1949

~ Dawn (Frame) O'Connor

Above: Weston School

~ Dawn (Frame) O'Connor

Above: Weston School - Class 1A - 2B - 1952

~ Valerie (Wilkinson) Unicomb

Above: Weston School - Class 2A - 1952

~ Errol Wells

Back L-R: Tom Sneddon; Dennis Green; Robert Amos; Jim Feenan; John Blenkiron; Gary Johnson; Graham Conn; Kevin Franklin; Robert Barrass; Alan Saunders; (——); Roy Kedwell.

3rd Row L-R: Dennis Dick; Errol Wells; Dennis Watson; Kerry Newell; Julie Frame; Ralene Henderson; Sandra Balsdon; Ross Difford ; Darrell Beveridge; Noel Wolfe; Leonard Robinson.

2nd Row L-R: Barry Jenkins; Gladys Johnson; Joy Young; Julie Turner; Margaret Robson; Marion King; Ann Thomson; Sue Brown; June Goodall; Pam Cook; Pat Bradley; Edward Lloyd.

Front Row L-R: Dawnette Beveridge; Ivy Wilson; Frances Fullick; Dianne Crawford; Lynette Barker; Beth Norris; ? Marjorie Windall; Carol Dumbrell; Jennifer Hancock.

Above: Weston School - Class 1B - 1953

~ Ean Smith

Above: Weston School - Classes 3A and 4B - 1953.

Back Row L-R: Michael Collins, Barrry Purser, (?), Dennis Watson, Dennis Russell, Errol Wells, Cecil Sweeney, Kerry Newell, Barry Jenkins, Mervyn Fairley.

3rd Row L-R: Denis Green, Darrel Beveridge, Graham Conn, Don Clements, Hugh McKenzie, Kevin Franklin, Len Robinson, Robert Barrass, Dennis Dick, Max Welch.

2nd Row L-R: Robert Bignell, June Goodall, Sandra Balsdon, Joan Parker, Pat Bradley, Julie Frame, Carol McNabb, Pam Cook, Tom Snedden.

Front Row L-R: Frances Fullick, Lynette Callaghan, Margaret Robson, Julie Turner, Lynette Green, Marion King, Sue Brown, Yvonne Noble.

~Photo and names supplied by Errol Wells.

Above - Weston School Athletic Team - 1956

~ Ean Smith

Back Row L-R: John Seddon, Geoff Wilks, Joe Phelps, Errol Wells, Graham Forster, Ken Bradley, Ray Robinson.

Front Row L-R: Maureen ?, Wendy Logan, June Goodall, Pam Cook, Judith Turnbull, Margaret Robinson, Marilyn Bissett.

Above: Class 2A Weston Public School 1956

Back row L-R: Alan Jones, Philip Myers, Paul Hallawell, James Wallwork, Peter Frame, John Martin, John Gainor, Peter Roddy, John Logan

3rd row L-R: Eric Barker, Lynne Robertson, Gordon Wealands, Robert Nicholson, Robert Barker, ?? Jeanette Sneddon, Patti Tindall

2nd row L-R: Julie Forster, Evelyn Mullier, Diane Lloyd, Christine Clements, Valerie Spruce, Pamela Fuller, Carolyn Cridland, Julie Birch

Front row L-R: Valda Smith, Ruth Lewis, Lynette Bailey, Helen Linabury, Susanne Sullivan, Diane Hare and Mary Mosely

~ Lynne Kermode

Above: Class 1A Weston Public School 1957

~ Lynne Kermode

Above: Class 3A Weston Public School 1957

~ Lynne Kermode

Above: Weston Public School 1959, Class T (Transition)

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Sixth Class - Weston Public School - 1960

~ Lynne Kermode

Above: Class 2L - Weston Public School - 1961

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class K - Weston Public School - 1964

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 1A - Weston Public School - 1965

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 3A - Weston Public School - 1965

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 2A - Weston Public School - 1966

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 4A - Weston Public School - 1966

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 5A - Weston Public School - 1967

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Kindergarten - Weston Public School - 1968

~ Toni Falk

Above: Class 1A - Weston Public School - 1969, Teacher: Mrs Murray

~ Toni Falk

Above: Class 5A - Weston Public School - 1969

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 2A - Weston Public School - 1970. Teacher: Mrs Mailfort

~ Toni Falk

Above: Class 6A- Weston Public School - 1970

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Weston School 1972 Prefects

Back L-R: James Evans; Mark Higginbottom; Glenn Beatty; Richard Wonders; Peter Williams ; Teacher Mr Harvey

Front L-R: Lesley Henry; Vicki Watt; Janelle Anderson; Tracey Hann; Julie Parsons

~ I Grew Up in Weston and Survived - Facebook Group

Above: Class 3-4M - Weston Public School - 1973. Teacher: Mrs Muir

~ Toni Falk

Above: Class 5A - Weston Public School - 1974. Teacher: Mr Stockwell

~ Toni Falk

Above: 6th Class - Weston Public School - 1975. Teacher: Mr Miller

~ Toni Falk

Above: Weston Public School - Class 3-K - 1980

~ Meredith (Falk) Robinson

Above: Weston Public School - Class 5-1 - 1982

~ Meredith (Falk) Robinson

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