AN INTEGRAL part of any small community, the local public school provides a hub for educational and social activity.
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Wombat Public School is no different and this weekend the institution will celebrate its 150th anniversary.
An anniversary reunion dinner and a school open day will be held to mark the momentous occasion.
The history of schooling at Wombat actually stretches back to 1867 when the first school, in a bark hut, was opened on November 6 by John Abbot Urwin.
An ex-Cambridge scholar, Mr Urwin had worked as a private tutor in the Young district for some years.
Twenty-five students attended the school on a regular basis. As a result, the inspector, Mr McCredie, decided the school should be given temporary aid as a provisional school until a public school could be built.
From January 1868 Mr Urwin was granted a salary from the Council of Education of £4 a month. He continued in the role until the school was closed due to typhoid in June.
In July 1869 a committee featuring Elijah Rivers, Charles Lewington and David Frater called for subscriptions to assist in the building of a public school.
An application was forwarded to the Council of Education in late July and in December 1869 Crown land measuring one acre, three roods and six purches was put aside for use as a school.
A plan was approved for a brick building that could accommodate 50 students, with a two-room residence attached. Local carpenter David Rintoul worked on the building.
A list of contributions to the school building fund, published in The Burrangong Argus on July 24, 1869, showed a total of £80 had been raised. Other fund-raising activities included a Grand Amateur Concert, which was held on November 5, 1869 at Lewington’s Australian Arms Hotel.
Classes continued to be held in the Wesleyan Chapel as a temporary venue.
The foundation stone of the new Wombat Public School was laid by Mrs Margaret O’Malley Clarke on Tuesday, November 1, 1870.
A jar containing coins, a copy of The Burrangong Argus and a document were placed beneath the stone.
The document was a brief note on the ceremony that had just been held and read – “Wombat: The Foundation stone of the Public School building was laid by Mrs Margaret O’Malley Clarke on Nov 1st, 1870. R.W. Chamberlain, Geo. Lyons, D.B. Frater, S. Hollis—Local Board. C.P. Lewington—Contractor.”
Mrs O’Malley Clarke was presented with an inscribed silver trowel in recognition of her part in the ceremony.
About 300 people attended the laying of the stone, which was followed by an afternoon tea in a specially erected marquee.
After a vote of thanks for the food provided for the afternoon, Reverend F.R Seaborn proposed a vote of thanks to the committee, making special mention of Mr Lewington who had originated the idea of a public school for the town.
That evening a ball was held at The Australian Arms, which reportedly continued “with great spirit until the early hours of the morning”.
The official opening of Wombat Public School took place the following year on March 17, 1871.
Mr James Watson MLA performed the opening at a ceremony in the afternoon, which was followed by a public tea meeting attended by the guests.