Raymonds Gap School
Record Group
Identifier: A0383
School status
Closed [1912 - 1969] Operated under the name Merrivale School 1930 - 1969.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1912 - 1929
Biographical / Historical
The application of the residents of Raymond’s Gap for the establishment of a temporary school was granted, on condition that they provide (as offered) a building suitable for use as a school at a rental of 4s per week. Suitable furniture and apparatus would be supplied by the Board, and Mrs Jas. Gordon would be appointed to the position as teacher at the school.(1)
On April 29th, 1912, the Raymonds Gap Public School was duly opened. The building was Mr Gordon’s chaff-house adjoining a stable building. Mrs Gordon was appointed to take charge of eleven children, varying in ages from five to fourteen and a-half years on opening day with more likely to attend.(2) First day families represented were: Gordon, Bates, Johnstone, Harpur, Matheson, Butler.(3) To get into the school from the main road the children had to go through several inches of mud. Conveniences were pretty basic.(4)
In June that year, the Board inspector was instructed to visit the building used as the school and report as to its suitability for the purpose. Four more children had been added to the roll, making the total number attending now fifteen. The residents were hopeful the Board would agree to erect a more suitable building or that some suitable arrangement be made for conveying the children to a neighbouring school.(5) A good percentage of the children attending were from a sawmill, the permanency of which could not be vouched for and this delayed action in the erection of a school. However, by May 1913, a 2 acres site had been purchased from Mr Campbell and an application made to Wellington for a grant to build a school.(6) £350 was authorised(7) and a new school built by Mr James Wilson for £292, was opened in 1914.
In May 1918, the school was closed for 9 months because of low attendance. It opened again in February 1919 with the appointment of Miss Snodgrass as the new teacher.
The Education Board gave permission for the school to change its name to Merrivale in 1930.(8) (The former Merrivale School changed its name to Orawia in 1925). A new school residence was erected in 1948 and a new school in 1954.
The school finally closed in 1969 and consolidated on Orawia. The building was shifted to Tuatapere to be used as a playcentre.
(1) Southland Times, 4 April 1912, p.2
(2) Western Star, 17 May 1912, p.3
(3) MacGibbon, p.57
(4) Western Star, 17 May 1912, p.3
(5) Western Star, 11 June 1912, p.2
(6) Southland Times, 10 May 1913, p.3
(7) Southland Times, 2 August 1913, p.3
(8) Western Star, 24 January 1930, p.2
Photographic references:
MacGibbon (1973) – Merrivale school photo on p.60
MacGibbon (1998) – Merrivale school photos on pp. 102, 104 & 107
Notes about staff:
Presentation to Mr G. Reid - Western Star, 23 August 1932, p.2
Bibliography:
Papers Past
MacGibbon, A. (1973). Orawia School and District History. Invercargill NZ: Times Printing Service.
MacGibbon, A. (1998; Compiler W. Godby). Orawia School 100 years centenary 1898-1998. Invercargill NZ: Craig Printing.
On April 29th, 1912, the Raymonds Gap Public School was duly opened. The building was Mr Gordon’s chaff-house adjoining a stable building. Mrs Gordon was appointed to take charge of eleven children, varying in ages from five to fourteen and a-half years on opening day with more likely to attend.(2) First day families represented were: Gordon, Bates, Johnstone, Harpur, Matheson, Butler.(3) To get into the school from the main road the children had to go through several inches of mud. Conveniences were pretty basic.(4)
In June that year, the Board inspector was instructed to visit the building used as the school and report as to its suitability for the purpose. Four more children had been added to the roll, making the total number attending now fifteen. The residents were hopeful the Board would agree to erect a more suitable building or that some suitable arrangement be made for conveying the children to a neighbouring school.(5) A good percentage of the children attending were from a sawmill, the permanency of which could not be vouched for and this delayed action in the erection of a school. However, by May 1913, a 2 acres site had been purchased from Mr Campbell and an application made to Wellington for a grant to build a school.(6) £350 was authorised(7) and a new school built by Mr James Wilson for £292, was opened in 1914.
In May 1918, the school was closed for 9 months because of low attendance. It opened again in February 1919 with the appointment of Miss Snodgrass as the new teacher.
The Education Board gave permission for the school to change its name to Merrivale in 1930.(8) (The former Merrivale School changed its name to Orawia in 1925). A new school residence was erected in 1948 and a new school in 1954.
The school finally closed in 1969 and consolidated on Orawia. The building was shifted to Tuatapere to be used as a playcentre.
(1) Southland Times, 4 April 1912, p.2
(2) Western Star, 17 May 1912, p.3
(3) MacGibbon, p.57
(4) Western Star, 17 May 1912, p.3
(5) Western Star, 11 June 1912, p.2
(6) Southland Times, 10 May 1913, p.3
(7) Southland Times, 2 August 1913, p.3
(8) Western Star, 24 January 1930, p.2
Photographic references:
MacGibbon (1973) – Merrivale school photo on p.60
MacGibbon (1998) – Merrivale school photos on pp. 102, 104 & 107
Notes about staff:
Presentation to Mr G. Reid - Western Star, 23 August 1932, p.2
Bibliography:
Papers Past
MacGibbon, A. (1973). Orawia School and District History. Invercargill NZ: Times Printing Service.
MacGibbon, A. (1998; Compiler W. Godby). Orawia School 100 years centenary 1898-1998. Invercargill NZ: Craig Printing.
Extent
1 box(es) (Box 1)
Language of Materials
English
- Title
- Raymonds Gap School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
