Clackline School

Clackline School, later known as Clackline Primary School, was a school in the Wheatbelt town of Clackline, Western Australia. It opened in 1896, and was extended and renovated several times before relocating in 1954 to a new site on the same road. The school was closed down in 1976, but in 1980 became the temporary location of the Avon Valley Church's school. A monument commemorating British colonisation was erected in 1929, and remains in use as a stopping point on the Kep Track.

History

Clackline School first opened in 1896.[1] On 17 January 1896, Hannah McCarthy was provisionally appointed as the school's mistress.[2] In May 1899, A. P. Lyhane was announced as master of the school.[3][4] In November 1899, the government allocated Clackline School ₤275 of expenditure,[5] and on 30 November 1899 the Department of Public Works advertised for tenders for a "Clackline School and Quarters" contract.[6] The department accepted Stewart and Co.'s tender of £302 19s 3d.[7] In 1908, tenders for additions to the quarters were invited,[8] and the lowest tenderer was D. McDonald.[9] By 1912 the school and quarters required renovations.[10] J. Meredith of Toodyay submitted the lowest tender[11] of £52 17s 6d, which was accepted.[12]

In 1915 the school's teachers and children, with the local progress association, organised a charity social event. Gifts sold to benefit the Western Australia Day Fund for the sick and wounded, with £22 1s 8d raised. The event was described as a "most successful affair", attracting participants from nearby and far away who patriotically fired off silver bullets.[13]

Approximately 35 students attended Clackline School in 1920, which had gardens and wheat plots for the children to enjoy.[14]

In April 1921 the Public Works Department accepted a tender of £182 15s 6d from A. Woolhouse for further additions to the school.[15][16] In May of the following year, Edmondson Bros.'s tender of £68 for school quarters and verandahs was accepted.[17] Tenders for renovations of Clackline school were called for in September 1927.[18]

On 6 July 1932, the Northam branch of Toc H visited Clackline School. Despite unfavourable weather, they successfully held sports competitions throughout the day, with prizes awarded, followed by entertainment in the evening, attended by children and adults in the public hall.[19]

On 12 December 1942, the Clackline School children participated in the dedication and consecration of the Avro Anson Memorial, which commemorates four Royal Australian Air Force airmen killed nearby earlier that year. The children laid wreaths, along with relatives and members of the armed forces.[20]

In May 1950, the Minister for Education, Mr Watts, revealed to the Clackline Progress Association that a new school, with a septic tank, was planned for Clackline, with the work to begin as soon as possible.[21] The new school, located a short distance away but still on Great Eastern Highway, opened c. 1954, the same year the old school closed. The name was also changed to Clackline Primary School. After 22 years, this newer school was shut down in 1976.[1]

In 1980, the Avon Valley Church leased the Clackline school site, while awaiting funds to construct a school on land purchased in Northam. The school was the only one in the area north of Perth.[22]

Monument

The Clackline School lion monument
Plaque on the lion monument

In 1929, the school's students and headteacher, E.W.Membery commemorated the 100th anniversary of British colonisation by building a monument. The monument features a sculpture of a lion, with a plaque reading:[23]

ERECTED by the PUPILS of CLACKLINE
to COMMEMORATE the CENTENARY
of the
BRITISH COLONISATION OF WEST
AUSTRALIA
MDCCCXXIX   MDCCCCXXIX A D.
E.W.MEMBERY. H.T.

The sculptor of the lion was Archie H Paton, who has since been recognised with a nearby plaque.[23] It is a stopping point on the Kep Track, adjacent to a picnic area and toilets.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 Higham, Geoffrey (9 May 2013). "WA Schools Gazetteer" (PDF). Geoproject Solutions Pty Ltd. p. 31. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  2. ↑ "Government Gazette". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 18 January 1896. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "News And Notes". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 4 May 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  4. ↑ "NEWS OF THE WEEK.". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 5 May 1899. p. 41. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  5. ↑ "The Estimates, 1899–1900". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 22 November 1899. p. 5. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  6. ↑ "Classified Advertising". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 13 December 1899. p. 2. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "GOVERNMENT TENDERS ACCEPTED.". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 January 1900. p. 7. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Advertising.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 October 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 28 October 1908. p. 7. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  10. ↑ "Advertising.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 October 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  11. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 6 November 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  12. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 10 January 1913. p. 37. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  13. ↑ "FOR THE SICK AND WOUNDED.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 9 August 1915. p. 9. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "OUR LETTER BAG.". Western Mail. Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 September 1920. p. 30. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  15. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 April 1921. p. 6. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "STEAMER EXCURSIONS.". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 23 April 1921. p. 4 Edition: THIRD EDITION. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "NEWS AND NOTES.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 27 May 1922. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  18. ↑ "TENDERS CALLED.". The Daily News. Perth: National Library of Australia. 29 September 1927. p. 4 Edition: HOME (FINAL) EDITION. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  19. ↑ "COUNTRY NEWS.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 14 July 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  20. ↑ "Memorial Unveiled". Kalgoorlie Miner. WA. 19 December 1942. p. 2. Retrieved 21 May 2014 – via Trove (National Library of Australia).
  21. ↑ "NEW CLACKLINE SCHOOL.". The West Australian. Perth: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  22. ↑ Henderson, Joyce R. (12 May 1980). "A NEW SCHOOL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA" (PDF). Australasian Record and Advent World Survey. 85 (19): 5. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  23. 1 2 "Clackline Lion". Monument Australia. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  24. ↑ "Bakers Hill to Clackline". National Trust of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2014.

Coordinates: 31°43′10″S 116°31′24″E / 31.719444°S 116.523333°E / -31.719444; 116.523333

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