O'CONNELL Public's 150th anniversary will be celebrated in the school grounds this Saturday.
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If it wasn't for the P and C in the 1970s, however, the location for the celebration might be completely different.
Ian Browne, who has been researching the history of the school in anticipation of this weekend's events, says the school building had fallen into such a state of disrepair by the late 1970s that it was at risk of demolition.
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"In 1977, the last teacher to live in the building was instructed that he could do so at his own risk and expense," Mr Browne said.
"When the teacher left, the P and C took out a permissive occupancy lease on the building for $20 a year, under many conditions, including bringing it up to standard.
"If the conditions were not adhered to, the building would be either sold, along with some of the land, or the building demolished.
"The P and C, led by the Christie and Atkinson families, convinced the Department of Education to go ahead with the lease. The conditions were met and that is why we have it today."
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Mr Browne said an O'Connell school existed in the grounds of St Thomas church on Beaconsfield Road in the village from around 1849.
In 1874, John Black, who owned a mill below the current school on the Fish River, gave about one acre of land - which did not front the Bathurst Road - for a new school on what is now Blacks Mill Lane.
The building was completed in December 1876 and Mr Black sold more land to the school in 1907 for £20, giving O'Connell Public access to the Bathurst Road.
The O'Connell Public anniversary celebrations will begin this Friday, September 20 at 6pm at the O'Connell Hotel, where the school band will perform, along with Bathurst duo Smith and Jones.
The celebrations at the school grounds from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, September 21 will include an official welcome at 10am, a student performance at 10.20am and open classrooms and an art exhibition on display from 11am to 2pm.
A morning tea and barbecue lunch will be available for purchase.