Lumsden School

Record Group

Identifier: A0279

Staff Only

Dates

Majority of material found within 1879 - 1954

Lumsden School

The first school in Lumsden was established in 1879, not long after the formation of the Southland Education Board. At first it was held in a loft above the stables at the back of the Elbow Hotel. There were objections to its location, including the fact that drunk men from the pub were using foul language causing the teacher to state the children were "being taught the work of the Devil from below, faster than he could teach them the word of the Lord above".

It moved two more times - to the Station Master's house (but the children were playing along the railway line) and an empty building (that was thought to be haunted) until a dedicated school building was erected c.1880.

The first teacher was John McPherson and surnames of some of the first pupils were Howells, Black, Howarth, Dore, Garthwaite, Pickens and Southern. Pupils travelled from as far away as Garston and travelled by train on the Kingston Gore express.

The school building had additions added in 1886 and 1893, a dental clinic in 1939, and swimming pool in 1944. In 1906 the school became a District High School, but for only 5 years due to the lack of secondary students. The building was in use up until 1964, and students moved into the new District High School which had opened in 1962. The old building was demolished and a new primary school building was opened in 1976.

- Notes by E. Easton -

See Bibliography for References

Extent

1 box(es) (Box 1)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Bibliography

'A century of steam : a short history of Lumsden, 1876-1976' by I. L. Goodson.
Reference: LC 993.96 GOO

A good short history of the town of Lumsden. Covers the early days of the town, the railway, businesses, churches, organisations and clubs, early personalities and Lumsden as it was in 1976.
Pages 23-24: List of former principals and the names of students on the first 1879 roll.
Page 25: Notes from early school minutes.
Pages 26-27: Achievements of pupils from 1966 to 1975.
Pages 66-71: List of Lumsden businessmen.

Bibliography

'History of Northern Southland' by G.A. Hamilton.
Reference: LC 993.96 HAM

Photographs of early settlers, and an index of individuals' names. Inside the back cover, there is a map of Northern Southland that shows the location of homesteads, tracks, roads and railways, towns and schools.