Cartmeticup School Site (No. 1)

Statement of Significance

The site is closely associated with the provision of schooling in the district.

Physical Description

Situated on the north side of Cronin Road.

About 50 Metres north from Cronin Road are the white stone remnants of the chimney
which were left when the school building was shifted. The building faced west (just north
of the line of pine trees) and a granite border marks one of the garden beds. At the rear
are posts which carried a gate for the back entrance.

Acacia acuminata (jam) trees covered the area after schooling finished. In recent years
these have been cut for fence posts. A row of pine eucalyptus and kurrajong (one)
surround the site, which was marked and described with a plaque in 1988.

History

The site is bounded by the original block selections of WH Hobart (N&S), GI Spencer
(N&E), MJ Bradbury (SE) and RE Black (West), being on the adjoining west block to
where GI Spencer built his homestead.

The arrival of Joseph Patterson with his five children had added to the already urgent
need for a school in the district. Following representation to the Government, a school
was erected here a mile east of where the Cartmeticup Church was to be built and opened
on 1 August, 190.1. Twenty nine pupils were enrolled with children representing the
Bradbury, Harvey, Lee, White, WG & JR Patterson's, Kealley, Darby and Shackley
families attending. The first teacher was Elizabeth Darby, elder daughter of the local
family, who walked to school each day with her younger brothers and sister. She later
married the local Baptist minister, Pastor Woods and was succeeded at Cartmeticup
School in turn by Mrs Hardy, Mrs Hanrahan, Misses Maley, Sweeney, Smith, Higgins,
Boan and Wilson.

The opening of the school by the Katanning Resident Magistrate Dr. Victor Black, was a
grand occasion for the Cartmeticup folk. Never since that area had known European
settlement had so many gathered together. Over 150 people including members of the
Local Board of Education (Mrs Tom Haddleton and Mr GA Beeck were two of the
members) were present for the opening and the concert and dance that followed in the
schoolroom that evening.

In 1926 with members dwindling the building was shifted about 10 kms to the north to
cater for the larger number of children in that area.

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Last Update

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This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.