Lake Munmorah P.S.
	School History - Reading Room

The school at Lake Munmorah started in 1923. The first classroom was completed in 1922 and was a wooden structure roughly 6m x 6m with a corrugated iron roof and a porch. Today Lake Munmorah has 21 classrooms, a hall, a computer lab and a wonderful library.

The Early Years

The families who settled in the area were widely scattered. At Elizabeth Bay were the Hutchinsons, Hams, Hancocks and the Campbells. At the end of what is now Tall Timbers Road were the Freemans and Bridges. In Chain Valley were the D'Arcy's and O'Neils. Halfway between the main road and Chain Valley were the Carters. When it was decided to build a school, it was placed geographically central to these areas. That is the present site and later it gave rise to much agitation as the population and traffic increased.

The school's first teacher was Mr Martin who was only at the school for a short time before leaving and being replaced by Mr. Cruikshank.

The parents of the first enrolments were miners who were all employed at the Wallarah Colliery or The Bay Pit, as it was generally known. Catherine Hill Bay village was then as it is now a picturesque replica of an English or Welsh mining town, the small houses crowded into a narrow street regardless of the space all around.

Some of the miners moved out to live round the lake shores, some to Lake Macquarie and some to Lake Munmorah. They took up portions of land, built simple houses (usually slab with earth floors to begin with) and farmed in between mine shifts.

The School House

A slow combustion stove stood in one corner of the school room. It was a long, low type with the flue going up through the roof. It burned wood or coal. Later when the free milk scheme was introduced , the milk was poured into a big, old saucepan, cocoa and sugar were added and a hot drink was had by all.

The furniture in the building consisted of long desks seating up to six children (depending on their size) on backless wooden forms. All ages sat on these benches and legs dangled and arms stretched accordingly. The desk tops included holes for inkwells.

The original school built in 1922 was used for nearly 40 years.

The Playground

The children had to walk to school and in some cases it meant five or six kilometres each way. In 1923 as the photo shows, very few children wore shoes. The playground was bare and stony with a few stunted trees. The poor soil and lack of water made gardening impossible. However, one of the early teachers planted three Myall wattles. These flourished and some of their descendants still grow in the playground today.

There were two pit toilets with conspicuous green bands of grass growing around them.

The area around the school was thick scrub and the children had the opportunity to observe birds, lizards, insects and even the odd echidna at close range. The school was a haunt of the red-bellied black snakes and these were usually dealt with by the children.

The School Bell

This is a link with the past. The S.S. "Munmorah", a collier of 1,273 tons was built at Leith in Scotland in 1934 for the Wallarah Coal Company. She traded between Newcastle, Sydney and Bellambi. The ship was wrecked on the Bellambi Reef on 17th of March, 1949 at approximately 8 p.m.

For many years the bell hung in the Bulli Hospital where it was used as a meal bell. Mr J.S. Veigel of Woonoona, a member of the Bulli Hospital Board, retired from the board, and took the bell with him. On 15th August, 1962, Mr Veigel presented the bell to the citizens of Lake Munmorah to be housed in the school. It has not been used as a school bell, but is of historical interest.

1960-1980

The first additions to the original building were begun in 1961 and completed and occupied in 1962. An assistant to the teacher in charge was appointed in 1960. The teacher in charge was Mr. O'Connor who taught the upper division an Mrs D. Fernance taught the lower division. The new building consisted of a classroom, teachers' room and a small storeroom. In 1966, as the school population had grown, a further extension was added in the form of a large kindergarten room.

The first water or sewerage came from a bore in the playground. A water diviner was employed and he indicated where water could possibly be found. The bore was put down and tests taken. The source of the water was fractured rock and the bore produced 300 gallons daily which was considered adequate for the school sewerage system.

In 1970 it was decided that another classroom was needed. The occurred the saga of the "Hole in the Ground". A government architect decided that a building should be constructed behind the existing building. The ground was considerably lower there and instead of the new building being placed on three foot piers, an area was excavated, levelled and the building placed on a concrete slab. The principal at the time Mr E. Potts, resisted the scheme strongly on the grounds of its unsuitability, drainage problems and general lack of commonsense. Despite heated exchanges, political intervention, and a lot of attention from the media, the building was completed. The predication proved correct. massive drainage programmes were carried out after heavy rains had ruined the carpet in the classroom and adjoining principal's office.

The original classroom was removed when "The Hole in the Ground" was occupied. It was taken by the Woy Woy Scout Group.

1981-1998

LMPS continued to grow and in the 1980's a boom in residential housing hit Lake Munmorah and Chain Valley Bay. The Dept. of Education supplied steel demountable classrooms every year and a demountable library, administration block and canteen were added. In 1989 demountable toilets arrived. The school was described as a "demountable Lego-land".

In 1992 the P&C, Staff and Community were successful in gaining assurances for the building of a new school. Stage 1 of this commenced on January 15, 1993 on the playing field and was completed by August. The students and teachers took possession of the new rooms on August 13th, 1993. Stage 2 of the development was the removal of the old school. The double classroom built in 1962 was saved, moved and renovated to become the Early Intervention Unit. The other permanent rooms and teacher's residence were demolished.

The completed school was officially opened by the Minister of Education, Mrs. Virginia Chadwick.

Since then an irrigated playing field, play areas, cricket nets and many other outdoor play and learning areas have been created.

The Future

The school population will be over 550 next year and with another boom in residential development forecast over the next seven years will grow to 600 or more. In 2000 or 2001 the new Lake Munmorah high school will open adjacent to our school.

Education in Lake Munmorah has come a long way in 75 years.

Principals of Lake Munmorah

There have been 19 Principals of Lake Munmorah Public School over 75 years.

A Final Word - taken from a project completed by Leigh.

Lake Munmorah and Chain Valley Bay Communities have had a rich and colourful past dating back to the late 1800's. From the first settler Jim Freeman to the growing community we live in today, there has been major growth. With the original school opening with around 36 students in 1923 to the 546 students currently attending the school.

The area has seen many changes in its strive to become what it is today. The once small country school with only old wooden desks and no electricity has grown to become a suburban school with computers and all the necessary equipment needed to keep it up to date with society's demands.

The school has been through a lot, with agitations and problems caused by increased traffic. With the danger school children faced when crossing the highway, followed by increasing accidents whilst leaving the school. These problems were eventually rectified with the installation of an overhead bridge and traffic lights.

It has seen many teaching staff come and go, as well as had many students enrol. It has played a major part in many peoples' lives. Students, parents and staff have been actively involved throughout its entire history.

Lake Munmorah will continue to educate students and teach them the necessary skills needed to live the rest of their lives.