School history

School History

The first school site 1860-1881.

Wallerawang was the second town west of the Blue Mountains to establish a public or national school. The first steps towards the establishment of the school were made in November 1859 when Reverend Simon McKenzie and Mr. Charles Sidey signed a petition on behalf of the residents of the district and applied to the National Board of Education. Mr. James Walker provided a sandstone room, a kitchen, parlour, and two upstairs bedrooms as a school room and teachers residence. The application was granted, and the first teacher was Mr. Charles Thomson.

At the end of 1860, 19 boys and 20 girls were enrolled at the school. Mrs. Walker was appointed an (honorary) Patroness of the school, the first and possibly only woman appointed as local patroness during the term of the Board of National Education. In 1863, the Board proposed to withdraw support for schools if attendance fell below a certain number. Mr. Sidey asked that a further trial be given and circularised for the parents to send their children to school, stating that if they could not afford the fees, arrangements could be made with the teacher.

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The second school site 1882 - 1995 (Term 1)

In 1879, the residents petitioned for a new school to be built. They pointed out that the commencement of the railway to Mudgee would bring an increase in population and that Mrs. Edwina Barton had made over a grant of land sufficient for a schoolhouse and teachers' residence. Mrs. Barton had presented a 2 ½ acre site adjoining the railway reserve.

Negotiations were completed in 1881, and the successful building tender was Mr. G Donald, who was the first Mayor of Lithgow. The school and residence were occupied on the 20th of May 1882. The school consisted of two rooms. The building was solid brick with a shingled roof and box framed windows. The interior featured cathedral ceilings, a gallery floor, and an open fireplace. A Parents and Citizens Association was formed in 1925; in 2025 we celebrated 100 years of voluntary service to the school through the Wallerawang/Lidsdale P&C Association. With the development of the railway system and Wallerawang as a major railway junction in the 1930’s and the closure of Blackman’s Flat school in 1936, enrolments increased. During the years of the Second World War, trenches were dug at the back end of the playground and several times a week when the signal was given classes would move quickly into the trenches. During the 1950’s, with the construction of the Wallerawang Power Station and the establishment of Newcom Colliery, the school experienced its most rapid period of growth. The continued growth saw the relocation and construction of buildings to accommodate the students. The school moved from Glen Davis after its closure in 1952 and Mr. JL Van Der Velden built another classroom in 1958. The school emblem design was won by Mr. John Barker, with the words Loyalty, Truth and Obedience added in 1968 when Mr. Danny Maloney won another competition. This forms the school emblem of today.

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The third school site 1995 (Term 2) - Current

In 1993, it was announced that Wallerawang was to finally receive its long-awaited new school to be built adjacent to Lake Wallace. The school was to have 10 classrooms, a large purpose-built library, a tiered learning area, hall with stage, basketball court, playing fields, a fully equipped canteen and a large outdoor covered area. A new school building committee was formed, and together with the community, raised a further $35,000 to allow the hall to be extended. Mrs. Gai Feltham, Mrs. Di Van Der Velden and Mrs. Julie Knox were acknowledged with a Director- Generals Award for their contribution to public education. Work on the new school site commenced on the 18th of February 1994. On the 16th of May 1995, the final assembly was held at the Main Street site, with school leaders entrusted with symbols representing values of the school. In partnership with the community, they were asked to present them at the new school the following morning, 17th of May 1995. The third school site was officially opened on the 24th of February 1996 by Hon Ross Free. Mr. George Peacock was the principal of the school transitioning across the sites. Significantly three Wollemi Pines represent the ‘three school sites’. Project 2007 raised an additional $50,000 as part of the ‘Investing in Schools Grant’ for all spaces to be air conditioned and a sports field constructed. In 2010, the school celebrated the sesquicentenary and is represented by a tiled mural wall signifying the history of the village and the school with input from staff and students, by our resident potter Mrs. Pauline Wellfare. The school continues to represent the connection to country and community with the Gugaa and the Outdoor Learning Area and Memorial Garden, creating a safe and welcoming space for students, staff and families. In 2023, the school was awarded the Secretary’s Award for school improvement, a significant achievement in the history of the school. In 2024 a case study was written in partnership with school Principal Jenny Lamborn and Canadian Education Researcher Dr. Lyn Sharratt on Clarity in Leading, Teaching and Learning at Wallerawang Public School and will be published in her latest book.

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HALLIDAY School & Church Bells

Halliday Engine Works won a government contract and begun casting bells for schools and churches in and around Sydney from the 1800’s and this work continued well into the 1940’s. The quality of the workmanship meant the bells rarely, if ever, needed replacing. It is believed the first batch of bells were not stamped with the Halliday trademark and were a smaller design, but soon after that putting the name on this beautiful craftmanship through construction has ensured its historical significance. The bell can be clearly seen in photos at the second school site in front of the original building from the late 1800’s, although there is no record of when the bell was installed.

The school bell takes pride of place in the centre of a directional star at the third school site. It was safely relocated prior to the opening of the ‘new’ school. The directional star represents all the points of the compass; the thinking is that every student who hears the school bell will travel to many places, but will always return to Wallerawang Public School.

On the 14th of April 2021, Principal Mrs. Jenny Lamborn and her family returned the bell to Halliday Engineering in Sydney to be refurbished by the company that originally made the bell in the 1800’s, still in business after 6 generations. Meeting with Mr. Luke Halliday and workshop manager Mr. Shane Lewis, a plan to return the still functioning bell back to its former glory was developed. Little did we know the impact that Covid lockdowns would have on the refurbishment of the bell and it’s return to the school. This along with the bell will go down in history. On the 10th of January 2022, the bell was ‘ready for a new life’ in Wallerawang. During the refurbishment process, a new wheel was added. When it was dismantled for blasting and painting, previous repairs were exposed and the wheel cracked further. At one stage of the bell's life, it seems that there was a brazing attempt. On Friday 18th of October 2022, the bell restored to its former glory returned to the centre of the directional star. On the 9th of December the two oldest Wallerawang PS alumni Mrs. Julia Livingstone and Mr. Cecil Green returned for the bell opening ceremony. Mrs Livingstone’s family has had 5 generations attending the school, significant to the school's history.

‘It is a privilege to partake in the refurbishment of these historic bells. To think they were once in the engineering hands of our master's and now in the engineering hands of today's tradespeople. The care and appreciation the schools have for their bells is remarkable. The bell brings together the sense of community and the joy of city and country working together. No two bells are identical, except the casting of the bell. Each requires an individual approach to refurbishment.’

Mr. Shane Lewis – Technical Director

‘May the school bell continue to ring with pride and significance from one generation to the next, with stories shared as we embrace the present and the future, while valuing the past.’