Coobowie School
Closed in 1971, the Coobowie Primary School has been given a new lease of life. Transformed into a multi-functional, group accommodation facility within the Coobowie Caravan Park. The project was funded through grants from Australian Tourism Development Program, the South Australian Tourism Commission, the District Council of Yorke Peninsula and Coobowie Progress Committee.
Coobowie has had 3 schools. In 1873 Stephen Carter began teaching school in a building adjacent to the site of the Baptist Church, which was the first Institute. It is estimated that 29 scholars attended in 1873, 14 boys and 15 girls.
Approved teaches were paid 40 to 100 pounds per annum, according to classification. Parents paid 1/- per week per child for top classes, less for lower grades. These fees were collected by the teacher to augment the salary aid by the department. The Troubridge Board of Advise commences in 1877. Board members were nominated locally and confirmed by the Department of Education. Attendance of scholars with a radius of 2.5 miles was compulsory. The duties of the Board of Advise were to inspect schools, investigate complaints from teachers and parents, arrange repairs, call tenders and pay small amounts. It was necessary to obtain permission for payment above 5 pounds per annum per school.
Some schools were government owned, others provisional (not built on government land). Teachers were not allowed to teach children whose parents would not or could not pay. These cases were later investigated by the Board. In some instances, teaching was allowed without payment, others were ordered to pay by the court. The Board was a dedicated group, holding 113 meetings from Feb 1877 to June 1890.
On the 25th May 1886, the Education Department indicated that a wooden school and residence would be erected at Mt Melville. This could have been the school that later became Coobowie School. About 1890, Coobowie was pressing for more accommodation for the school children. Mr J C Noak, the teacher, reported there was seating for 30 pupils but the average attendance was 41.
It was about this tie the weatherboard school arrived from Mt Melville. We have been told Mr Henry Bartram assisted in moving the building intact, which was placed on his land on the north side of the Methodist Church. Photos show that in 1899-1919/1920 there were at least 53-55 pupils at the school. It would have been quite cramped.
In March 1920, the foundation for a new school was laid (in its current location) and was open for use by the start of school term in 1921. The school consisted of a 2-room stone building with a galvanised iron porch on the north side. This building was closed in 1971. In 1936, to commemorate South Australia’s Centenary, a sunken garden was built to the eastern side of the school. A plaque commemorating the event with the 25 pupils’ names and the teacher Mr Les Hewton, was also placed in the garden. This plaque has now been placed in storage for safe keeping.
During World War 2, they had trenches out in the yard in case of enemy attack. Built by the parents, they were 4ft6in deep and 3-4 ft wide, lined with sheets of iron and a gable roof. It was an L shape, around a pepper tree, inside the eastern side of the front gate. Yellow twin engine trainer planes used to come over from Adelaide. They were always flying low over the school. One pilot leant out and waved to the children.
Arbor Day was held each year, planting trees around the school and township. The high tides killed some of the trees before the sea wall was built. Other traditions included a rooster chase by the children and a game of basketball with the parents.
At the end of each year, after much practice, a school concert took place n the Coobowie Institute. A fitting end to a year of study.
According to a newspaper article dated 22/8/1941 – trees in the vicinity of the Coobowie School were planted in memory/honour of locals who had passed, including Moreton Bay fig trees. Could our fig tree in the campground be one of those?!
You will find many historical photos as well as a plaque of Coobowie Old Scholars and Teachers displayed inside the Coobowie Community Hall.
We have included “Coobowie by the Sea by Frances Low”. We believe that Frances was a teacher at the school and it is a song that she wrote.
Many thanks and credit goes to Marie Stanton for this insight and information of the history of the Coobowie School. Her dedication to collecting and sharing Coobowie’s History over many years is second to none. Marie and husband Malcolm, continue to be wonderful resources to the Coobowie Community to this day.
