Culbin School Site, Culbin Siding

Statement of Significance

An example of a bush school and the struggle for isolated country communities to gain education facilities. It displays the mobility of school buildings in this period being recycled to another area of immediate need. The school's history also highlighted humanitarian and racial issues which were representative of a wide area of regional WA at that time.

Physical Description

Located on a 5 acre reserve (17797) designated Lot 38 Culbin, west of the Culbin Siding at the SW corner of the Williams/Parkan and Culbin/Boraning Roads.

History

Local agitation resulted in a school which was built in May 1922. The successful tender of £306 12s was that of A Woolhouse. It was officially opened on 19 July 1922 by a young teacher fresh from the Training College, Miss Kathleen Cartwright. Due to poor attendances, the school closed on 31 October 1924. The building was dismantled in March 1927 and re-erected at North Newdegate. A few years later the need for a school was again felt. The Department in the light of past experience, was reluctant to re-establish a school. In their eagerness, the parents removed from Tarwonga an old type school building and had it re-erected. Una Wansborough, reopened a school on 9 February 1931, and remained until September 1932, when she was transferred to Wilgoyne. Mavis Bright, formerly of that school, assumed responsibilities at Culbin until relieved by Edith McDade in August 1936. From then on teachers came and went in quick succession. (1) Dan McCarthy 1937, Beryl Cahill 1938, Catherine Daniels 1939, Bob Duncan 1940, Hugh McLeod 1941, Eileen Coweher October 1941 until March 1949, Bernie Giles until August 1950 being replaced by A. Evans and Lucy Torrise to the closure of the school on 10 December 1952. (2) The most colourful period of its existence commenced in the late 1930's when part-native families began erecting their camps on road verges or any other open space available provided it was convenient to the school which they wished their children to attend. These people were without permanent water supply and adequate sanitary conveniences. The one small classroom soon became over crowded and the Department brought from Group 62 an old school and had it re-erected on the same site as the existing building. This addition was opened on 16 June 1938. Enrolments of part native children continued to increase so that in late 1940 the teacher (Bob Duncan) asked for the appointment of a monitor, a post filled in February 1941 by Mr Massey. By that time the parents of the white children had became most irate and letters of protest were sent to the Education and Native Affairs Departments, local politicians and many meetings of protests were held by aggrieved parents. At the time 13 white children and 17 natives were enrolled and in a few days the number of the latter was expected to increase to 25 making a total enrolment of 38 with seating accommodation in the two buildings for 43 pupils. The teacher wrote - "The position at this school is grave. The white parents have kept 10 children away from school as a protest". This resulted in segregation with white children in one building and the native in the other. The final protest came from a teacher Astrid Evans, who objected to having to use the same lavatories as natives. The department ruled that it was not in favour in having separate lavatories. (3)

Condition

Site

Uses

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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