Our History
The first public school consisted of an 8 metre square classroom partitioned at the back to provide living quarters for a teacher and was leased by the department for the sum of 8/- (8 shillings) or 80 cents weekly Sydney.
The Post Office is the original structure renovated and modernised by subsequent owners over the years. ( This building has since been replaced with the current Post Office/Shops). About 17 pupils of all ages came from around Bohnock down towards the Bar and quite a few were transient timber cutter's children. Some rode bareback and picked up those walking so sometimes 1 horse had 5 or 6 passengers. The horses were tied to various shade trees of which is now the corner of Cross Street and Old Bar Road, and a huge Morton Bay fig tree planted by Pioneer Mrs Gillfillan in 1880 was a dominant landmark until developers of Belle Vista subdivision removed it. The pupils of the time sat around this tree to eat their lunches.
First Headmaster At Old Bar Public School
Will Hopper was appointed to open Old Bar Public School after the August-September holidays in 1935.
A partly built house was used as the school. It was a weather- board building, complete on the outside but without main walls inside and with hessian attached to the rafters to divide the building into 2 or 3 rooms.
Information and photo provided by Athol Hopper, (Will Hopper's son) who was in Year 6 at the time.
Will Hopper
The first public school consisted of an 8 metre square classroom partitioned at the back to provide living quarters for a teacher and was leased by the department for the sum of 8/- (8 shillings) or 80 cents weekly Sydney.
The Post Office is the original structure renovated and modernised by subsequent owners over the years. ( This building has since been replaced with the current Post Office/Shops). About 17 pupils of all ages came from around Bohnock down towards the Bar and quite a few were transient timber cutter's children. Some rode bareback and picked up those walking so sometimes 1 horse had 5 or 6 passengers. The horses were tied to various shade trees of which is now the corner of Cross Street and Old Bar Road, and a huge Morton Bay fig tree planted by Pioneer Mrs Gillfillan in 1880 was a dominant landmark until developers of Belle Vista subdivision removed it. The pupils of the time sat around this tree to eat their lunches.
First school on the present site. It was built in the 1940s
The school amenities consisted of 24 wood-topped second-hand desks screwed to the rough wooden floor boards. Two tall wooden storage presses to hold books, pencils and slates, plus table and chair for the teacher's use, as well as a blackboard attached to the wall. A first aid kit was a shoebox containing a bottle each of iodine and kerosene, a pair of tweezers for removal of splinters in bare feet and a packet of aspros in case of need.
The present school site was selected in the 1930's and in 1940's work began on the new class room with verandah in front and an incorporated sewing room at the far end. Once again it was a stark and sterile looking room, bare floored and the same two presses, table and chair plus desks and blackboard were installed, but the many windows made the room light and airy.
Extract of article by Olive Tewksbury
Some Milestones in the Story of Old Bar
Prior to 1818 Aboriginal people lived in the area for thousands of years.
According to 'Custodians of the Soil' by John Ramsland, published by Greater Taree City Council, "The Aboriginal population of the Manning River region was relatively dense before the invasion of the white man and corroborees of various kinds frequently consisted of four hundred to five hundred people. The density of the population was strongly related to the abundance of natural food supplies, both in the river and other waterways and on the land. "
Today Old Bar falls within the boundaries of the Purfleet/Taree Local Aboriginal Lands Council.
1818: Surveyor John Oxley crossed and named Farquhar Inlet on 24th October
1855: First blocks of land being sold by Henry Flett to commence the town of Taree.
1884: Old Bar Park was reserved for Public Recreation and dedicated on 25th July 1884. Charles Boyce was one of the pioneer Trustees. Any person entering the reserve had to pass through a gate where an admittance fee was charged for day visitors.
1903: First Ferry installed across the Manning River at Taree. This opened the way for an overland track to be made to The Old Bar. Prior to this and for a good time later all transport was by the river.
1907: Fred Richardson believed to be the first leasee of the Old Bar Pavilion and camping ground.
1912: Mr William Lee a land holder at Old Bar had portion of his land sub-divided into town allotments:Connell, Smith, and Clerke Streets bounded by David and Cross streets.
1913: Mr Sauzier's Convalescence Home was in operation on the main Old Bar Road near where TAGs Restaurant is today.
1914: First Post Office and telephone installed at the Pavillion operated by Mr Richardson.
1914: The cottage 'RITO' was built by the Beeton family . This cottage is still standing at 25 David St is Old Bar's oldest building.
'Pacific Sounds ' was also originally built about this time but has since been completely rebuilt.
1928: The first meeting to establish the Taree Old Bar Surf Club was held on New Year's Day 1928 at the Pavilion at Old Bar and a Club house was subsequently built and opened.
1930: Opening of the first Ladies Surf Clubhouse.
1930: The George Bunyan cleared the area for Airstrip.
1932: Opening of the second Ladies Surf Clubhouse ( now Rushby Casino)
1937: The S.S. Urana, a coastal trading steamer ran aground on the reef about 500 metres off Old Bar Beach.
1940: The Methodist Church (now Uniting Church) was erected in Smith Street and opened on January 3 1940.
1941: The Rushby Casino was erected on the Reserve and the the 'new' school was in built in David Street.
1947: Waterman Subdivision: Bryan, Belford, Farleigh Streets as well as Richardson and Sheppard Streets.
1950: The George/Hall Subdivision( previously Noon's farm 1902): George, Hall & Lewis Streets as well as Pacific Prde.
1952: The Roman Catholic Church was built and opened in December 1952.
1958: The Soldier's Memorial Hall was built.
1961: The first sub-division of Crown Lands sold by auction of the area bounded by David, Old Bar Road, Ungala, Smith and Tirriki streets. THe approximate price per block was 465 pounds.
1974: Application submitted to build a new Surf Clubhouse.
1979: The new Surf Clubhouse became fully functional when $7,000.00 was donated to finish the kitchen and install a new ceiling.
1979: The Belle Villa Subdivision
1988: Celebrartion of Bi-Centennial year at Old Bar with a visit from pioneer aviatrix Mrs Nancy Bird Walton.
1989: An historic "Capsule " to be recovered in 2038 A.D was buried at the base of Old Bar's historic marker.
1993: Construction of Banyula Village began.
1998: Old Bar Community Library opened in Shop 8 in the Petere Ibbottson Complex .
2006: Bi-Lo Shopping Centre opened
Some References used:
The Old Bar and Manning River Islands 1818 to 2001 AD by Geoff Hunziker
Our First 60 Years 1928-1988
