| Captain's
Flat did not get a permanent school until 1886. Until
then, school was carried out on a house-to-house basis.
But the size of the mining operations meant that a
school was warranted. Mr. John Filshie was appointed as
teacher and he taught in rented premises for two years.
A permanent school building was approved and built in
1889 for the princely sum of £596. However due to an
increase in enrolments to 126, another teacher was
appointed and a new classroom and shed built.
Mr. Filshie and Miss Deer were
replaced by Mr. Keys and Miss Walsh, however they were
not happy with their appointments and repeatedly applied
for transfers. Further extensions to the school began in
1897 after copper became the prime mineral mined at
Captain's Flat. Enrolments increased as the population
grew. The original building was divided into three
classrooms.
When the mines closed in 1899,
enrolments dropped dramatically from 200 to a mere 34,
however the nearby Silver Hills School was closed and
students brought to Captain's Flat by the mailman which
maintained numbers at a reasonable level. The school
remained active until 1927 when a diptheria epidemic
swept through, resulting in the closure of the school
for awhile. The teacher at the time lost a son to the
disease. Enrolments increased again in the late 1930's
with the reopening of the mines. Student numbers rose to
149 and Mr. Alfred Wood was appointed Headmaster in
1938. A number of portable classrooms were added and a
headmaster's residence was built some time later. By
1959 student numbers were at an all-time high with 12
teachers on staff, catering for all levels up to fourth
year secondary classes. The town made scholarships
available for students who wished to continue to fifth
level secondary at other schools.
However the final closure of the mines
caused another dramatic downturn in student numbers,
just as it had in 1899. In 1971 and 1976, moves to close
the secondary section were successfully opposed by
teachers and local support for the school by residents
was high. By 1979 however, secondary enrolments had
dropped to just 16 and the secondary section of the
school could no longer remain open. In 1980, students
left each day for Queanbeyan schools on buses.
The school was granted another teacher
after public outcry when schools in the then state
Premier's electorate were granted extra staffing and
Captain's Flat was not. Children were kept at home in
protest and the issue became a state-wide controversy
which fuelled public passions at the time. Captain's
Flat's battle with the state bureaucracy paid off with
87 schools receiving extra staff.
Today, Captain's Flat Public School
boasts some 60 students ranging from kindergarten level
to sixth grade and is staffed by four permanent teachers
and support staff. The original building from 1887 is
still in use, being home to the school library.
The old school crest |
The school in 1940. It is the building surrounded by
pine trees centre right of the picture
Miss J. Dyer - School Captain 1960
Class of '61. Secondary school classes were dropped in
1979 with students having to travel to Queanbeyan by bus
each day
Primary School children marching on Anzac Day 1995 |
