Gordon Public School Explained

Gordon Public School (former)
Coordinates:-33.7535°N 151.1521°W
Map Relief:yes
Location:799 Pacific Highway, Gordon, Ku-ring-gai Council, New South Wales, Australia
Beginning Label:Design period
Built:1871
Built For:NSW Instruction Department
Owner:Ku-ring-gai Council
Designation1:New South Wales State Heritage Register
Designation1 Offname:Gordon Public School; Former Gordon Public School
Designation1 Type:State heritage (built)
Designation1 Date:2 April 1999
Designation1 Number:757
Designation1 Free1name:Type
Designation1 Free1value:School – State (public)
Designation1 Free2name:Category
Designation1 Free2value:Education
Designation1 Free3name:Builders

The Gordon Public School is a heritage-listed former government public school located at 799 Pacific Highway, in the Sydney suburb of Gordon in the Ku-ring-gai Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The school was opened in 1871 and closed in 1989. The property was transferred to community use and is owned by Ku-ring-gai Council. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[1]

Government primary schools at and the Gordon West Public School, located in, have replaced the Gordon Public School.

History

Between 1871 and 1885 the school was known as the Lane Cove School.[2] The denominational Wesleyan School at Lane Cove was in 1871 converted into a public school. The enrolment was then 54 children.

This school continued to be held in the old Wesleyan chapel until 1877. In March 1876, a site fronting Lane Cove Road (now known as Pacific Highway) was acquired at a cost of 30, but portion of this ground was subsequently resumed by the Railway Department in 1888: but the Instruction Department secured an additional area for £318, and a further area was conveyed in 1891. The name of the school was in 1885 changed from Lane Cove School to Gordon Public School. In 1877 a tender for new school buildings and residence was accepted for the sum of £1,957, which were completed and opened in August of that year. At the official opening of a new wing at the school by the Minister of Public Instruction, The Hon. Jacob Garrard MP, in 1897 it was reported that the school afforded accommodation for 98 pupils. In 1888 further additions were made at a cost of £207. The rooms just opened measured 34.5feet by 24feet, and is constructed of stone, and covered with slates, so as to match the old building. It is of modern design, giving plenty of light and ventilation and 124ft3 for each child. It gave accommodation for 100 pupils. With the old building there was accommodation for 220 children. The enrolment of the school for March 1897 was 205, with an average attendance of 143. The total cost of land and buildings amounted to £3,351.[3]

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. 00757. S90/03069/001. 2 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Gordon Public School. The Dictionary of Sydney. City of Sydney
    State Library of New South Wales
    . 2016. 19 September 2018.
  3. News: Gordon Public School . 18 June 1897 . 19 September 2018 . . 3 . Trove: National Library of Australia.
  4. News: Pratt . Tony . A school finds its famous old boys . The Sydney Morning Herald . 16 September 1962 . 69.
  5. Book: Philip Cox. Portrait of an Australian Architect . Towndrow, Jennifer . Penguin Books Australia . 1991 .
  6. James Cotton, 'Kershaw, Raymond (1898–1981)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://peopleaustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/kershaw-raymond-31015/text38382, accessed 23 March 2022.
  7. Heritage listing

    Gordon Public School was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

    See also

    References

    Attribution