Brightwater's School for Boys - 1888-1889
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The brick school
In 1887 Spring Grove School was overcrowded and run down, it was also the only school in the area that educated senior boys. Instead of just upgrading the existing school, the decision was made to build a new boys’ school on Main Street (today’s Ellis Street.).1 A parcel of land was purchased off Mr Max, and this land is still the site of Brightwater School today.2
In October 1887 builders were asked to submit tenders for building a new school in brick. Less than a year later the school was finished, furniture for 30 boys had been delivered, a water pump and outdoor toilet had been built, and fences had been put up. A journalist visiting the new school was ‘greatly pleased with the view of the exterior… Its great size, solidity, and the beautiful and costly belfry surmounting the whole structure’. And reported that the building was ‘finished throughout in really first class style… beautifully lighted and airy. 3,4
In October 1888, the Boys’ School formally opened with a roll of 46 boys, most transferring from Spring Grove, River Terrace, Waimea West and Hope Schools. The first Principal was Thomas Warnock.
There had been problems finding qualified teachers for Brightwater Girls’ School, and in September 1889, the decision was made to ‘mix’ the Boy’s School. ‘Under a really good master, who shall have the house next to the Girls' School for a residence’…and that the Girls' School be postponed (closed) and the pupils moved to Brightwater’. An advertisement was placed in local newspapers for ‘A Certificated Master’ for Brightwater School and in October William Bryant was employed.5
In November 1889, just over a year after the Boys’ School was opened, Charlotte Silcock was the first girl enrolled at the new mixed Brightwater School.6
In June 1929 the brick school building was damaged in the Murchison Earthquake and a new wooden building was constructed on the same site. This opened on June 6 1931.
Story from the Brightwater Heritage Boards 2020
Updated August 16, 2022.
Tools
Sources used in this story
- Education Board. (1887, April 7). The Colonist. p.3.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18870407.2.8 - Brightwater School. (2013). 125th Reunion of Brightwater School 1888-2013: Brightwater History & District Schools. Brightwater School. p.104.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/843800406 - The new brick school at Brightwater. (1888, July 19). The Colonist. p.3.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18880719.2.8 - Nelson Education Board. (1888, September 6). The Colonist. p. 3.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18880906.2.11 - The Education Board. (1889, September 5). The Colonist. p.3.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18890905.2.5 - Brightwater School. p.104.
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Further sources - Brightwater's School for Boys - 1888-1889
Books
- Batchelor, B., & J. Marris. (1979). Centennial history, Brightwater and district schools: Waimea West, Brightwater Girls, Garden Valley, River Terrace, Brightwater Boys, Wairoa Gorge, Totara Bush Household. Centennial Organising Committee.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/229384900 - Batt, R., & Waimea South Historical Society. (2018). Schools in the valleys: Educating our ancestors in Waimea South 1843-2003. Waimea South Historical Society.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1085402872 - Brightwater School. (2013). 125th Reunion of Brightwater School 1888-2013: Brightwater History & District Schools. Brightwater School.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/843800406 - Campbell, J.(1996). Rutherford's ancestors. AAS Publications. p. 35-36.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45262845 - Gregory, Kenneth (1976). Land of streams: life in the Waimea County, Province of Nelson, 1876-1976. Waimea County Council.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1000492351 - Harris, Jill (2002). A place to live: the Tasman District...a community profile. Tasman District Council and Dry Crust. p.62-63, 70-71.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/497814724 - Stringer, Marion J. (2006). More Wakefield spuds: more Waimea South history. Marion J. Stringer. p.104-105.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/946511655 - Stringer, Marion J. (1999). Just another row of spuds: a pioneer history of Waimea South. M.J. Stringer.p.42-48.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45726534 - Waimea South Historical Society. (1992). From River to Range. Waimea South Historical Society.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/154235771
Articles
- Dakin, J. (1982, November). The Elementary Schools of Early Nelson 1842-1856: A Case of Community Development. Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, 1 (2). p.11-25.
https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-NHSJ04_02-t1-body1-d4.html - Nelson Weekly. (2012, June 27). School to rebuild iconic water wheel.
http://nelsonweekly.co.nz/2012/06/school-rebuild-iconic-water-wheel/
Web Resources
- Brightwater School on Tasman Heritage.
https://heritage.tasmanlibraries.govt.nz/nodes/view/80
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Comments
I attended Brightwater School from 1947 to 1952 and need online sources for a memoir as the first female full professor in an Economics Faculty in Australia. I also studied and was an assistant lecturer in the Political Science Department at the University of Canterbury.
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Posted by Patricia Mary Springborg, 26/11/2023 12:30pm (10 months ago)
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