History
Blackheath Public School officially opened its doors
on Monday 13 July, 1885.
The first wooden building measured 20 by 16 feet, and sat on a 2-acre
block that was (and remains) split by Leichhardt Street. Adjoining was
a 2 acre reserve for pupils' horses.
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Alexander McLennan and his pupils in front of the first
schoobuilding, 1885.
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The school's first teacher, Mr. McLennan, started with
a class of 22 pupils but at the end of the year found himself crammed
in the small building with 42 children, and counting. In quick succession
the school building expanded to accommodate the growing number of children,
while in 1888 the schoolbell was provided. It is still part of school
life.
In 1889 a teacher's residence was built on the school grounds, which
led to Mr. Mclennan's transfer to another school. Teachers' residences
were normally reserved for married teachers. Being unmarried, poor Alexander
McLennan had to marry or go. This must have left a deep impression on
him, for he was to be married 3 times after that...
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Even in 1890 caning could be controversial, as James
Ferguson, McLennan's successor, found out after caning Master James Cripps
for idling and talking. This is Ferguson's account of what happened then:
"At about 10'clock the boy's father walked into
the school in a boisterous manner, without previously knocking and not
deigning to take his hat off. His behaviour was most disrespectful. He
demanded that I should come and speak to him. I did so. He then stated,
without informing me who he was, that I did to much caning, and that he
would not have his boys caned."
At this Ferguson explained that pupils were under his
control while at school and must be punished if they broke the rules.
Cripps then went back into the classroom, where a wide-eyed group of pupils
were taking a great interest in these proceedings, and ordered his boys
out of the school. Ferguson:
"When he ordered his boys to come out of school,
I asserted my authority by commanding them to remain in their seats. They
obeyed my order, much to the anger of their father, who thereupon used
these words, "You'll cane them, will you! If you do, I will give
you this umbrella across your back, damn quick"... It was after he
had used this bad and insulting language, in the presence of the pupils,
that I shut the door on him. The key, being on the outside, he locked
the door, but, when he heard me directing the Pupil Teacher to go out
at the window and open the door, evidently he thought better of it, and
opened it himself."
In 1895, Walter Laws found himself appointed as headmaster.
He was to leave a lasting mark on the school, often fighting the Department
of Education to improve the school's standards and buildings, as well
as being involved in Blackheath's struggle for independence from the Blue
Mountains Shire.
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During his appointment, the school's buildings expanded
to accommodate the growing number of pupils. He narrowly missed out having
his school upgraded to a High School, with Katoomba winning the race for
secondary education in 1920.
Laws was to remain at the school until 1926, his reign lasting 30 years.
At the end of World War II enrolments had reached 200 and as there
still were only 4 classrooms a portable classroom was added. When this
was still not sufficient the old 1885 school building (used as a weathershed)
was brought back into use. It was demolished in 1959. In that year,
the new Assembly Hall was opened by the Minister for Education. Donations
from the Blackheath citizens paid for half of its cost, and construction
was undertaken by local volunteers.
In 1964 a new kindergarten room was taken into use, and in 1975 a two-story
building was completed, comprising administrative offices, canteen,
4 classrooms, library, staffroom, storeroom and audio-visual room. These
additions completed the school as it stands now.
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