Ironbarks School

“It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town, He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down
He loitered here, he loitered there, till he was like to drop, Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber's shop…”

These very recognisable first few lines, are from one of Banjo Patterson’s best known, and well-loved poems, The
Man From Ironbark. What isn’t so well-known, is that the town of Ironbarks was built in a hillside hollow in central
west New South Wales.

Most of the population were originally drawn to the town because of the gold rush, and were prospectors or miners
with very little education or money. The need for a public school was first identified in Ironbarks in 1858, and
Ironbarks Non-vested National School was opened on 1st December of that year, with a school room that measured
sixteen by fourteen feet and could hold up to thirty students.

The school room was not only used for education, but was also used by all denominations for public worship on
Sundays, and became the focal point for the community. The school had a shaky start, with the population fluctuating as
gold was found in other regions, and people moved on. Poverty was high in these early years, and very few parents
could afford school fees.

The “Man From Ironbark” was published in the Bulletin three years after the town of Ironbarks name was changed to
Stuart Town. The school followed suit, changing its name to Stuart Town Public School in 1889.

Stuart Town Public School continued to not only provided education to the children in the township, but also a social
centre for community gatherings. The School will be celebrating its 150th Anniversary in 2008, come along and enjoy the  celebration - 7th-9th June, 2008.

Joanne James, Director, Curriculum Resources Centre, University of Canberra and Member of the ANME Board.

Stuart Town Public School – A history

(The following historical information and quotations have been taken from Whispers from Ironbarks by the Stuart Town Bicentennial Committee, 1988)

The Beginning
1800s
1900s
Teachers In Charge
Successful ex-students

The Beginning
The need for a public school was first identified in 1858. Up until then, some instruction had been given at a basic level in buildings “of a very rough nature”. Most of Ironbarks’ population had come to the town because of the gold rush, and were prospectors or miners with very little education or money. In 1858 a letter was written to the National Education Board with the request that a school be set up at Ironbarks. After an inspection and report on the current situation, the Board of National Education replied that there were a number of requirements to be filled before a school could be founded, including the provision of an appropriate school building and fees set at a level that could be afforded by the majority of the population.

Ironbarks Non-vested National School was opened on 1st December 1858 with a school room that measured sixteen by fourteen feet and could hold up to thirty students. The first teachers were Robert Austin Stace and his wife, Maria Stace. The schoolroom was also used by all denominations for public worship on Sundays.

1800s
Gold finds at Lambing Flats in the early 1860s led to the closure of the school when a large number of Ironbarks’ population moved on. The school reopened as a Provisional School, with thirty-three students, in 1867. The school’s status was increased to that of a Public School in 1870.

In 1877 a request was made to the Department of Education for improved accommodation for the school master and the expansion of the schoolroom to cater for at least one hundred and fifty students. Average attendance at the school at the time was approximately seventy. The request was denied, but over the next few years modifications were made to the teacher’s house and the schoolroom.

By 1883 the economy of the town was failing, with little gold being found and employment hard to find. Poverty was high, and few parents could afford to pay school fees. Many wrote asking for a pardon from paying fees, and had the support of the teacher of the time, Mr Bourke.

In January 1889, Mr Bourke wrote a letter to the Inspector, regarding the school and the residence’s state of disrepair. The roof shingles required replacement, there was a need for more water tanks, fences needed repair, the buildings required painting both inside and out, and the spouting needed to be replaced. Some of these requests were granted, and local tenders were sought to complete the work.

The town became known as Stuart Town in 1889 when the Lands Department gazetted the new township. The railway station and post office had changed their name, and from the 18th February 1889, the Ironbarks School followed suit becoming Stuart Town Public School.

By 1890 the number of students attending the school was 132, and there was a request by the Secretary of the Stuart Town Progress Committee, to have the school buildings inspected with the possibility of replacing them completely and moving them to a new site which was more central to the township. The reply from George Lower came that the town was nothing more than “a worked out goldfield” and the replacement of the school could not be justified.

The school was closed for several weeks in 1893 as a result of an outbreak of diphtheria in the area. Twenty cases were reported and there were 3 deaths. In 1894, another case of diphtheria was reported which caused great concern, and the school was provided with disinfectants to use in the buildings and the toilets. The existing water tanks were also cleaned out.

Mr Bourke, the teacher, continually corresponded with the Department regarding the sad state of repair of the school buildings and the teacher’s residence. He continued to plead his case with the Department until 1898, when finally news was received that tenders were to be called for the erection of a new school and repairs to the residence. The total cost of these works was estimated at £660.00. Over the next few years, repairs and renovations were undertaken, although there were a number of delays owing to the lack of water.

1900s
Mr Bourke was replaced by Mr Day in 1902, at which time the position of sewing teacher was passed onto his wife. From this point on, the headmaster’s wife took on the role as sewing teacher.

Water continued to be a problem for the school, and one complaint, which was lodged in 1904, stated that “the tank at the school was still leaking and as it had been repaired fourteen times it was respectfully suggested that a new tank would be the only way to solve the problem”. A new tank was in place by 1905.

Many changes took place at the school over the next few years. A new shelter shed was constructed in 1907 and the residence was renovated to include the old school room. In 1912 a manual training class was established, and in 1913 the Department of Public Instruction arranged for common use playground set aside for use by the children.

The Teacher in charge from 1911 to 1915, Mr Passmore, was very unhappy in the position and found Stuart Town to be “an evil place”. He was transferred to Norfolk Island in 1915 and replaced at the school by Mr Roberts.

The school was affected by another outbreak of diphtheria in January 1916, and then in 1918, by scarlatina. During the First World War women would meet at the school to spin wool and knit socks for the troops, and functions would be regularly held at the school to raise money to provide extras for the boys at the front.

1n 1925, a tennis court was constructed at the school at a cost of £62. Ernest Fuller, the Teacher in Charge during this period, tried to organise a Friday afternoon tennis competition with surrounding schools. The Department would not give permission for the competition to go ahead.

During the 30s, the school was used as the social centre for Stuart Town with concerts and celebrations held. The Great Depression was a terrible time for parents and students, but sport, dances and concerts at the School brought the community together so that they were able to make the best of bad times. The spirit of the “Man from Ironbark” was alive and well through the difficult years.

The school continued to be the focus of the community during the Second World War, with christmas trees, concerts and award-giving ceremonies bringing the community together. Housie was also held regularly so that funds were available to send parcels to the Australian troops. Garments were sent to the Red Cross for distribution.

The construction of Burrendong Dam in the 1960s saw an increase in the school’s population. The Headmaster of the period, John Cudden, encouraged the children to take part in all district activities including sport. During this period, a bore was sunk at the school, which finally solved the water problems the school had experienced since its opening in 1858.

In 1975, the school verandah was enclosed to make office space for ancillary staff. Barbara Eade was appointed to this position.

The old residence was demolished in 1986, and a new residence was constructed on the same site. Colin Kneeshaw was the first Headmaster to reside in the new building.

“Gone are the days of bare boards and log fires and the school is indeed a far cry from the original, old bark hut. The floors are carpeted, windows curtained and the students are warmed in winter by splendid gas fires and cooled in summer by ceiling fans. Only the pupils remain the same, with their dreams and hopes for the future. “(Whispers from Ironbark, p.50)

Teachers In Charge (and their date of appointment)

Robert Stace 1/12/1858

Elizabeth Everett 1869

Kathleen Treehy 11/1870

Robert Campbell 10/1871

Alfred Haddock 18/12/1876

William Tilley 6/10/1881 - see note below

John D Bourke 1/1/1883

Arthur Day 6/1902

Arthur Passmore 8/1911

Edward Roberts 19/6/1915

H G Campbell 9/4/1916

C A Matthews 20/3/1920

A T Brown 27/9/1922

Ernest Fuller 31/10/1924

Vincent Hogan 27/7/1928

Bede Smith 10/11/1933-11/34 (Relieving)

Percival Waterhouse 6/12/1933

Laurence J Ward 11/12/1941

Edward J English 18/6/1946

Herbert C Lamb 28/6/1946

Thomas Kemp 29/1/1952

John R Cudden 13/9/1955

Charles Walpole 27/1/1970

John E White 28/1/1975

Colin O Kneeshaw 31/1/1978

Alan Hooper

Danny Moore

Lance Sharp

Rod Mutton

Vicki Williamson

Patrick Maloney

Ann Maree McAnulty

Joy Wyner


Successful ex-students

Sir Robert Askin – Premier of NSW 1965-1974

Evelyn Cowell MBE – services to nursing

Jack (Roy) Lee – Private Secretary to the Archbishop of Cantebury

Ted Boland – Distinguished Conduct Medal at Bardia, 1940

Roy O’Neill – Poet

Nelson Mendham – famous airman

William Crick – politician

William Tilly taught at Ironbarks (Stuart Town) and Wellington in the 1880's.
He went to Germany and learnt German, French, Italian and Spanish. He started
the Institute Tilly in Berlin. He became renowned as a teacher of languages. He
was assisted by a vast family of sons and daughters. He was interned in 1914-18
war. Later he taught at Columbia University USA.


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