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Schools and Pupils of the Wollombi Valley
When visiting Wollombi on their annual Open Day I met the headmistress of Wollombi Public School, Bryony Allen, after explaining that I was photographing the school and other historic buildings that day for inclusion in an article about Wollombi for the Hunter Valley website, she kindly gave me a copy of 'Schools of the Wollombi Valley' published by the Wollombi & Laguna Parents & Citizens Associations, October, 1981 and gave me permission to list the names of the pupils and teachers mentioned in the book.The book of 70 pages was written by Malcolm Goudie (a former Headmaster) from the oral recollections provided by former pupils who attended the schools and includes class photographs taken over the years.
If you had family in the Wollombi Valley then this book is a 'must have', the recollections about the schools and life in Wollombi in the late 1800's and early 1900's are absolute gems. Copies of the book are still available for about $10, plus GST and postage, to purchase phone Wollombi Public School.
Above - The old and new, Wollombi School from the rear with its satellite dish.
Plan & Location of the schools
| The Schools: |  WattaganDairy Arm Payne's Crossing LagunaMurray's Run |
Sweetman's Creek Yango Creek Mount Finch "Yallambie" |
Wollombi School - First opened 26th April, 1852, closed in 1853 and reopened 1855.
List of Teachers in Charge
| Name | Date of Appt | Name | Date of Appt |
| John Rubie | Mar 1852 | Samuel Young (Relieving) | Nov 1913 |
| W.H. Hooke | c1855 | Patrick T. Clyne | Dec 1913 |
| John Wright | Feb 1856 | Robert Blare | May 1925 |
| Thomas Cunneen | Apr 1862 | Thomas Beck | Mar 1929 |
| Mr. Goudy | 1864 | Frederick Lett | Sep 1931 |
| Stephen J.Smith | 1865/1866 | Richard Ridden | Feb 1937 |
| Thomas Henerie | May 1870 | Mary O'Connell | May 1943 |
| Daniel Alderton | Nov 1871 | Charles Stanmore | Jun 1943 |
| Joseph Hollick | Nov 1874 | Albert G. Squire | Jan 1949 |
| Joseph Brownlie | Sep 1875 | Lindsay Crane | Feb 1954 |
| John Farrell | May 1882 | Arthur McKenzie | Jan 1957 |
| Hugh Fraser | Dec 1888 | William Tyson | Jan 1962 |
| Joseph Kinlock | Apr 1889 | William Brewer | Feb 1965 |
| Frederick Moulsdale | Mar 1897 | Ian Grey | Jan 1968 |
| John Dobbie | Sep 1899 | A.W. Stubbs | Mar 1969 |
| Alfred Croft | May 1903 | K.J. Hutton | Jan 1973 |
| * William Gray | Jan 1911 | Malcolm R. Goudie | May 1975 |
Assistant Teachers:
Mesdames Hodge, Heckling, Midson, *Williams, Wren, Aird, Baker, Cropp, Mr. Slack, Mr. Hurdon
× View the two letters sent to William Gray by his pupils 1912 & 1913
Families mentioned in the Recollections of Florence Murphy (nee Clyne)
Andrews, Bailey, Burgess, Cherry, Dean, Forbes, Goldsmith (with those long plaits), Goodwin, Harris, Hawkins, Hughes, Ireland, Jacobs, Jurd, Owens, Patterson, Post, Roberts, Rodgers, Turner, Walker, Willis.
© Patricia May [All Rights Reserved]