Bewween 1903 and 1906 there was an incentive to photograph all of the children in the education system in Western Australia. Many of these photographs appeared in the newspapers. As with many of the schools in the outlying towns of the Goldfields, the whole school could be captured in one photograph. It would also be the only way many parents could get a copy of a school photograph, as it would have been too expensive for many families to purchace a print.
The young children in these photos would have been looking forward to a bright future in this new century. However, they were not to know, that many of them and their families would be decimated in the coming war of 1914-1918.
The following is a selection of some of the schools that I have found photographs of:-
Bardoc 1907
Bonnievale State School 1906
Broadarrow 1904
Broadarrow 1906
Brown Hill 1904
Brown Hill 1904
Burbanks 1906
Boorara School 1905
Burtville School 1905
Coolgardie 1906
Davyhurst 1904
Kanowna 1906
Kookynie 1906
Kunanalling 1907
Kurrawang 1905
Lakeside 1904
Lakeview 1904
Laverton (Half Time) 1904
Looking at all those innocent faces, I can’t help but wonder what their lives were like…..
Many of them were probably lost in WW1
Sadly, that could well be right.
Morning Ms. Sharp, would you have any school photos of Gwalia & Leonora between 1935- 1943. My friend Andrew Adamini started school at the convent and then went to the state school. His father was in the Army up there. It is his birthday on the 13th November and it would be lovely to give him a surprise.
Many thanks for all your hard work Lenora Gregory
Thank you for those wonderful photos and thank you for the great dedication you put into the History of the Goldfields , I enjoy every newsletter .
Aww thank you for your kind words, much appriciated.
Great photo collection. Suggest publishing one each week and asking people to name any of the children and teachers. Wonderful family history resource.