Birchwood School
Record Group
Identifier: A0137
School status
Closed [1910 - 1943]
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1910 - 1943
Biographical / Historical
School site: Section 30, Part of Section 9, Block 1, Wairio Survey District
In 1910, as part of the Birchwood Subdivision, a school was built on a one acre site donated to the Southland Education Board by A.W. Rodger. An additional three acres was accepted at £15 an acre for school.
The school site was on a fine level paddock near the dairy factory and Messrs Wright, Stephenson's store; and also near to the Birchwood homestead. It opened on 14 September 1910 with twelve pupils, namely two MCGREGOR children and 10 BAIRD children from one family. W.G. Mchaffey was the first teacher [Southland Times, 31 August 1910, p.6].
By the end of 1911, there were twenty-five children attending the school, which was at that time being held dairy factory manager's new residence. Miss Dickson or Dixon was the teacher.
In September 1911, the SEB had received a favourable report from their Inspector recommending that a new school be erected and a Government grant of £350 was forwarded. This sum was supplemented by Mr Rodger to the extent of £50 [Western Star, 17 November 1911, p.2]. Mr D. Sinclair’s tender for building of £265 was accepted [SEB minutes]. The new school was built opposite the dairy factory [Southland Times, 23 December 1925, p.7].
Various teachers spent short periods at Birchwood School, but it struggled to survive. October 1925, when Mr Walter Watson was appointed as temporary teacher, the tradition of the school concert was revived and the newspaper report has names of many of the students.4
On 21 March 1943, Birchwood School was closed and consolidated to Ohai School.
Information about staff
Valedictory for Miss Margaret Athy. Western Star, 12 April 1921, p.3
Valedictory for D. J. Vickers Southland Times, 27 January 1933, p.9
Bibliography
Papers Past, Southland Education Board Teachers’ Register, Southland Education Board Minutes
Thomson, J. S. (1980). Pasture, Coal Seam and Settlement; Centennial History of Nightcaps and District 1880-1980. Invercargill, NZ: Nightcaps & District Centennial Committee. pp. 294-295.
In 1910, as part of the Birchwood Subdivision, a school was built on a one acre site donated to the Southland Education Board by A.W. Rodger. An additional three acres was accepted at £15 an acre for school.
The school site was on a fine level paddock near the dairy factory and Messrs Wright, Stephenson's store; and also near to the Birchwood homestead. It opened on 14 September 1910 with twelve pupils, namely two MCGREGOR children and 10 BAIRD children from one family. W.G. Mchaffey was the first teacher [Southland Times, 31 August 1910, p.6].
By the end of 1911, there were twenty-five children attending the school, which was at that time being held dairy factory manager's new residence. Miss Dickson or Dixon was the teacher.
In September 1911, the SEB had received a favourable report from their Inspector recommending that a new school be erected and a Government grant of £350 was forwarded. This sum was supplemented by Mr Rodger to the extent of £50 [Western Star, 17 November 1911, p.2]. Mr D. Sinclair’s tender for building of £265 was accepted [SEB minutes]. The new school was built opposite the dairy factory [Southland Times, 23 December 1925, p.7].
Various teachers spent short periods at Birchwood School, but it struggled to survive. October 1925, when Mr Walter Watson was appointed as temporary teacher, the tradition of the school concert was revived and the newspaper report has names of many of the students.4
On 21 March 1943, Birchwood School was closed and consolidated to Ohai School.
Information about staff
Valedictory for Miss Margaret Athy. Western Star, 12 April 1921, p.3
Valedictory for D. J. Vickers Southland Times, 27 January 1933, p.9
Bibliography
Papers Past, Southland Education Board Teachers’ Register, Southland Education Board Minutes
Thomson, J. S. (1980). Pasture, Coal Seam and Settlement; Centennial History of Nightcaps and District 1880-1980. Invercargill, NZ: Nightcaps & District Centennial Committee. pp. 294-295.
Extent
1 box(es) (Box 1)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Birchwood School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
