The Broken HIll Proprietary Co. Ltd opened the Newcastle Steel Works in June 1915. The establishment of the steel industry and of the associated industries nearby produced expansion of the population in the Waratah/Mayfield district, resulting in pressures on school accommodation at Mayfield Public School. For this reason the establishing of Mayfield West Public School, caused by this industrial development, and in the surburban expansion to the west, which left Mayfiled Public School inconveniently located to serve the new areas.
Mayfield West Public School opened onthe 4th July 1925 with an enrolment of 200 and a staff of six. By March 1930, the school had an enrolment of 492, with only 302 children able to be accommodated in the six classrooms. 83 children were taught in the upper assembly area and 107 children in the lower assembly area. A new building was provided to separately house the Infants in 1934. By this stage the school had a total of 549 students and 12 staff.
In the post war period, with the establishment of the Migrant Hostel, many children from the various European countries were to begin their education in Australia at this school. A two roomed portable building was used to accommodate the extra children, as they were often only at the school temporarily until accommodation was found.
This is an extract from Mayfield West Demonstration School : Information leaflet.
Posted by the Organising Committee.
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