The History Society has received a copy of a book “Mining Towns and Schools in Outback NSW”, “dedicated to the men, women and children who endured tremendous social and physical hardships in outback NSW during the 1800’s and first half of the 1900’s”. Author John Selwood compiled the book after a 40 year teaching career, which started at a one teacher school at Afterlee, near Kyogle in northern NSW.
Wilcannia, though not a mining town, was included due to the part the town played in transport, for both people and goods, to and from mining fields. A few snippets –in 1896 there was 1 teacher and 28 students: in 1962 there were 4 teachers and 155 students: in 1992 there were 17 teachers and 150 students. Today there are 80 students, the number of teachers is not stated. Included is a list of the School Principals since 1889, however John notes that there is a gap from 2005 to 2015 as the school did not respond to requests for information. Some lasted 2 or more years, others such as Donald McQualter and James Glasson less then 1 year. The first three School Principals (or Head Teachers as they were then known) appointed after the School became a full school, lasted around 5 years each, longer than most later Principals, when the school building was basic, as was the accommodation, and the conditions in the town. This included the time of the Federation Drought, when the river did not flow for over 300 days. Mr Arthur Knight, the Head Teacher at this time, later moved to the school on Norfolk Island, setting a precedence for a more recent Principal, Michelle Nicholson, (2010-2012) who after leaving Wilcannia in 2012, went to Norfolk Island as Principal in 2013.
Under the Broken Hill District, 27 schools are listed, though some had short lives, such as The Gorge (May 1927 to April 1928, and Daydream (July 1890 to December 1895).
Only 12 copies of the book have been printed, one is held in Wilcannia, (please contact us through the paper), the others at existing schools including Broken Hill, Cobar, Lake Cargelligo, and Nyngan.
This article appeared in Wilcannia News, November 2024.