In 1907 The Gloucester Estate Ltd put to auction the first blocks in the so called Waukivory Subdivision. As the land was taken up the community saw the need for a school.1
Some confusion arose in 1912 when a Mr Richardson arrived from Wingham to take charge of the school, only to find it had not yet been built: he was subsequently transferred to Coneac.2 It was 1913 by the time a building was prepared and a teacher appointed.
In September 1915 teacher John Thomson enlisted for military service in WW1. The school then closed pending the appointment of his replacement.3 However, fate intervened when bushfires swept through Waukivory in November of that year, totally destroying the school building.4
Despite the community’s best efforts, a replacement school did not eventuate until late 1922.5 Throughout the 1920s the school faced obstacles in terms of fluctuating student numbers and government support.
In 1951 Mr Warren Deards was transferred to Waukivory. It was his tutelage which led to the first enrolment of a pupil from Waukivory School to a metropolitan high school – Albert Ribbons who was enrolled at Newcastle Boys High School in 1953.6
Waukivory School closed circa 1978 and is now a private residence.7
Author: Penny Teerman
References:
1 Gloucester Advocate Saturday 1 July 1911 Pg 11
2 Gloucester Advocate Wednesday 24 January 1912 Pg 6
3 Gloucester Advocate Wednesday 29 September 1915 Pg 2
4 Construction and Local Government Journal (Sydney) Friday 19 November 1915 Pg 11
5 Gloucester Advocate Wednesday 15 November 1922 Pg 2
6 Gloucester Advocate Friday 13 February 1953 Pg 2
7 https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/searchhits_nocopy?id=32&school=Waukivory&date=&item=&remarks=
8 Webbs Real Estate Gloucester, https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-lifestyle-nsw-gloucester-7925386
