History: Tong Bong School
Preview of version: 12
Click on images to enlarge
Tong Bong was a Provisional School Oct 1881 to Sep 1882
Public School Sep 1882 to Jul 1884
Public School Sep 1884 to Mar 1885
Half-Time School Jul 1884 to Sep 1884 with Coxs Crown
Provisional School Apr 1889 to Apr 1893
Half-Time School May 1893 Oct 1895 with Oakborough1
Opened in 1881 with 17 year old Mr Arnold Caldwell of Rylstone appointed teacher. The promoters of the school included: George Shumack, Farmer, Henry Kirkwhite, chemist, John W Jackson, storekeeper, William Farrar, publican, and Robert J Highfield, storekeeper. Arnold Caldwell remained at Tong Bong school for four years.
On 18 October 1881 Arnold Thomas Caldwell was instructed to act as teacher at Tongbong Provisional School.
On 29 September 1882 Arnold Thomas Caldwell was instructed to take temporary charge of Tongbong Provisional School.
ON 4 July 1884 Arnold T Caldwell was removed to Ballarah P9
It was closed in 1885 as a result of lack of students.
Elizabeth Donoghue was teacher at Tong Bong Public School in 18852 .
In 1889 a new school was built on Crown land four miles from the site of the previous school. The new school was built of sawn slabs with a hardwood floor and galvanised iron roof. William James, manager of Rawdon Colliery, assisted in the construction and Florence Wilson was appointed teacher. The school was temporarily closed due to a death from diphtheria. Florence Wilson resigned in 1890 and Miss Kearsley was appointed in her place.
Towards the end of 1891, the coal mine closed and school attendance dropped. Miss Kearsley was transferred and Jeanne McQuiggan was appointed in her place. At some stage in the 1890s Tong Bong school became half time with Oakborough School. When Oakborough School was merged with Carwell School in June 1897 ( and became known as Carwell School ) the Tong Bong School was closed and the Tong Bong pupils then attended Pinnacle Swamp School3 .
Staff, W. B. A history of Rylstone, p. 131.