Orepuki School
Record Group
Identifier: A0346
School status
Closed [1872 - 2004]
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1875 - 1954
Conditions Governing Access
This collection may contain RESTRICTED material. Please see notes on individual items for further information.
Biographical / Historical
The first Orepuki School was opened at Garfield on 26 February 1872 by the Otago Education Board. Mr John Smith Andrews was the first teacher. Scholars were required to pay fees varying from 10s to 12s/6d a quarter.
These children were enrolled on the opening day, most of them classified as S.3 or S.4: Charles, Mary and Sarah DURBRIDGE; Charles FORBES; Eileen O’BRYEN; Ernestine RIECHEL; Edward and Mary Ann WALKER; Jane and Alice RIDDELL; Annie HIRST; Lucy MENPES; Augusta and Josephine BERNSTONE; John and Bridget FITZGERALD; Elizabeth ESCOTT; Agnes and Janet WATSON. By the end of 1872, the roll number was 33 pupils [Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3].
Mr Andrews was tall and wore red whiskers with a kindly disposition and beloved by his pupils. He had rare musical gifts and was a splendid pianist, his services being in great demand at dances and social gatherings, which were held in the school, this being the only public meeting place in the district at that time. The school building was also used by various denominations as a place of worship. Mr Andrews acted as music teacher and gave instructions to a number of pupils [Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3; Miller, p.62].
A new school building was completed in 1874, Mr Riddle being the contractor. The old school was converted into a residence [Wilson, p.32].
In September 1874, Mr Andrews was appointed master at Southbridge School and handed in his resignation as master at Orepuki [Otago Daily Times, Issue 4023, 9 January 1875, p.2]. The Committee immediately advertised in the Government Gazette for a successor. One applicant, a lady from Auckland (Mrs Clarkson), offered high class testimonials, and her offer was accepted, subject to the approval of the Education Board. However, the OEB disallowed the appointment [Western Star, 23 January 1875, p.5].
Mr W. J. Sercombe was appointed head teacher in March 1875. In February 1878, a public meeting was held to discuss his qualifications. Opinions were divided among the heads of the families present and it was finally moved that “on account of either insufficiency or carelessness, this meeting has no confidence in Mr Sercombe as a teacher” [Western Star 2 February 1878, p.6]. He resigned from the school in November 1878.
Mr C. Anderson was appointed in January 1879 to replace Mr Sercombe, but his tenure was a short one. In November that year, the School Committee, agreed to recommend to the Southland Board of Education the appointment of Mr J. S. Andrews, who had been the first schoolmaster five years before [Western Star, 8 November 1879, p.6]. He remained until 1882. Mr Henry P. Young was appointed on 3 August 1882 and remained as head teacher until his retirement forty years later in February 1923.
In 1893, the school was shifted from Garfield to Bolton Street, in the new township of Orepuki (Hirstfield). Messrs Donovan and Barry offered to lease the original school glebe for mining purposes. The Education Department informed the SEB that the Government were willing to bring the Orepuki School site under the Mining Act, but only on the Board's agreeing that the land may be mined upon and not sold [Southland Times, 8 October 1892, p.2]. Donovan and Barry secured the lease for £210 and they agreed to shift the school. The building of two rooms was cut in two and pulled to the new site by and horse bullock teams. The school residence was also shifted. Later, two more classrooms and a corridor were added.
The school celebrated its diamond jubilee in 1934 [Southland Times, 31 January 1934, p.11; Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3]. Both papers give a good account of the history of Orepuki as well as the school. There was also a 90th anniversary celebrated in 1962.
The newest Orepuki School was opened on 22 July 1968 and it was erected directly behind the old prior moved school. The old building was then taken down. From this point on, children attended their local school only up until the old Standard Four.
The school was closed on 26 January 2004.
References to staff:
Farewell to Mr J. S. Andrews, headmaster - Western Star, 19 August 1882, p.2
Valedictory to Miss Grace Bryden, mistress - Southland Times, 4 May 1892, p.2
Presentation to Miss McWilliams - Western Star, 11 June 1898, p.2
Obituary for Mr J. S. Andrews - Southern Cross 4 February 1899, p.8
Presentation to Mr H. P. Young, headmaster - Western Star, 2 February 1923, Page 4
Obituary for Mr H. P. Young - Western Star, 3 May 1929, p.2
Photographic references:
Mr H. P. Young, headmaster - Southland Times, 2 February 1934, p.3; Wilson, p.53
Photographs of old and new school buildings – Wilson, p.53
Bibiliography:
Papers Past, Southland Education Board records
Miller, F.W.G. (1954). West to the Fiords: the history of Western Southland. Western Southland Historical Committee. Dunedin, NZ: Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd.
Perkins, G. (1985). Pieces of chalk: history of Riverton district schools. Riverton and Districts Schools’ 125th Celebration Committee. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Ltd
Wilson, Eva. (Ed.). (1971). Orepuki: a hundred years of memories. The Orepuki School and District Committee. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Ltd.
These children were enrolled on the opening day, most of them classified as S.3 or S.4: Charles, Mary and Sarah DURBRIDGE; Charles FORBES; Eileen O’BRYEN; Ernestine RIECHEL; Edward and Mary Ann WALKER; Jane and Alice RIDDELL; Annie HIRST; Lucy MENPES; Augusta and Josephine BERNSTONE; John and Bridget FITZGERALD; Elizabeth ESCOTT; Agnes and Janet WATSON. By the end of 1872, the roll number was 33 pupils [Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3].
Mr Andrews was tall and wore red whiskers with a kindly disposition and beloved by his pupils. He had rare musical gifts and was a splendid pianist, his services being in great demand at dances and social gatherings, which were held in the school, this being the only public meeting place in the district at that time. The school building was also used by various denominations as a place of worship. Mr Andrews acted as music teacher and gave instructions to a number of pupils [Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3; Miller, p.62].
A new school building was completed in 1874, Mr Riddle being the contractor. The old school was converted into a residence [Wilson, p.32].
In September 1874, Mr Andrews was appointed master at Southbridge School and handed in his resignation as master at Orepuki [Otago Daily Times, Issue 4023, 9 January 1875, p.2]. The Committee immediately advertised in the Government Gazette for a successor. One applicant, a lady from Auckland (Mrs Clarkson), offered high class testimonials, and her offer was accepted, subject to the approval of the Education Board. However, the OEB disallowed the appointment [Western Star, 23 January 1875, p.5].
Mr W. J. Sercombe was appointed head teacher in March 1875. In February 1878, a public meeting was held to discuss his qualifications. Opinions were divided among the heads of the families present and it was finally moved that “on account of either insufficiency or carelessness, this meeting has no confidence in Mr Sercombe as a teacher” [Western Star 2 February 1878, p.6]. He resigned from the school in November 1878.
Mr C. Anderson was appointed in January 1879 to replace Mr Sercombe, but his tenure was a short one. In November that year, the School Committee, agreed to recommend to the Southland Board of Education the appointment of Mr J. S. Andrews, who had been the first schoolmaster five years before [Western Star, 8 November 1879, p.6]. He remained until 1882. Mr Henry P. Young was appointed on 3 August 1882 and remained as head teacher until his retirement forty years later in February 1923.
In 1893, the school was shifted from Garfield to Bolton Street, in the new township of Orepuki (Hirstfield). Messrs Donovan and Barry offered to lease the original school glebe for mining purposes. The Education Department informed the SEB that the Government were willing to bring the Orepuki School site under the Mining Act, but only on the Board's agreeing that the land may be mined upon and not sold [Southland Times, 8 October 1892, p.2]. Donovan and Barry secured the lease for £210 and they agreed to shift the school. The building of two rooms was cut in two and pulled to the new site by and horse bullock teams. The school residence was also shifted. Later, two more classrooms and a corridor were added.
The school celebrated its diamond jubilee in 1934 [Southland Times, 31 January 1934, p.11; Western Star, 2 February 1934, p.3]. Both papers give a good account of the history of Orepuki as well as the school. There was also a 90th anniversary celebrated in 1962.
The newest Orepuki School was opened on 22 July 1968 and it was erected directly behind the old prior moved school. The old building was then taken down. From this point on, children attended their local school only up until the old Standard Four.
The school was closed on 26 January 2004.
References to staff:
Farewell to Mr J. S. Andrews, headmaster - Western Star, 19 August 1882, p.2
Valedictory to Miss Grace Bryden, mistress - Southland Times, 4 May 1892, p.2
Presentation to Miss McWilliams - Western Star, 11 June 1898, p.2
Obituary for Mr J. S. Andrews - Southern Cross 4 February 1899, p.8
Presentation to Mr H. P. Young, headmaster - Western Star, 2 February 1923, Page 4
Obituary for Mr H. P. Young - Western Star, 3 May 1929, p.2
Photographic references:
Mr H. P. Young, headmaster - Southland Times, 2 February 1934, p.3; Wilson, p.53
Photographs of old and new school buildings – Wilson, p.53
Bibiliography:
Papers Past, Southland Education Board records
Miller, F.W.G. (1954). West to the Fiords: the history of Western Southland. Western Southland Historical Committee. Dunedin, NZ: Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd.
Perkins, G. (1985). Pieces of chalk: history of Riverton district schools. Riverton and Districts Schools’ 125th Celebration Committee. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Ltd
Wilson, Eva. (Ed.). (1971). Orepuki: a hundred years of memories. The Orepuki School and District Committee. Invercargill, NZ: Craig Printing Ltd.
Extent
1 box(es) (Box 1)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Orepuki School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
