Rockhampton National School

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In the very year of the Canoona rush, when the women in Rockhampton were few, and the children of school age still fewer, parents gave serious thought to the education of their offspring. That is characteristic of an Australia, and certainly of Queensland, for everywhere that a little hamlet a springs up the necessary necessity of having some means of teaching the children soon brought to the front, even should the difficulties to be overcome such caused long delays. So on February 15th, 1859, there was a meeting of those appointed as the Rockhampton School and Church committee, over which the Sub-Collector of Customs, Henry Lumsden, presided, when it was resolved to erect a school building, 40 ft long and 20 ft wide in which Divine service could also be held on Sundays. There was no newspaper in which to call for tenders, but the size and requirements of the building having been decided on, the tender of a contractor name Jenkins was accepted, and he no doubt started on the contract directly he saw that the promised subscriptions were coming in.

Before the building was erected, however, Mr Lumsden was recalled to Sydney and William John Brown filled his position as Sub-Collector of Customs, and also accepted his predecessors position on the school committee. The building having been completed, it was opened for business on August 16th, 1859, F K Milne, afterwards the first town clerk, being appointed schoolmaster, each scholar to pay 1 s 6 d per week. Thus at this cost a day a school was started, the population been only a few hundreds, principally men.

Up to this date there were no religious assemblages, unless they were in the open air, and in September the committee decided to open a Sunday school. Frank N. Beddek, the clerk of Petty Sessions, or who afterwards held that position, was appointed Sunday school superintendent. Six teachers volunteered, Misses Gaden, Gibson and Dick for the girls, and John Palmer, W. J. Brown, and F K Milne for the boys.

It was also decided to hold Divine Service in the school building on Sunday morning and evenings, at which probably F.N. Beddek, and the three school teachers took an active part, there been no ordained clergy.

Things were now going on swimmingly, there being a day school, Sunday school, and organise worship twice on Sundays. Six months passed away, during which the population steadily increased and the town was gradually putting on an increased appearance of permanence. Buildings, particularly business premises, were going up in various directions, all been quickly occupied.

By May 1860, it was found that the school building was not large enough, and it was resolved to petition the new Queensland Government for a site for a public school. This request was granted and the allotments at the corner of William and Denison Streets was granted-where the Girls' Central School now stands.

From: J. T. S. Bird 1920 "Early History of Rockhampton"

History of Central Boys School Rockhampton see [1]