The first classroom for this beginning boys’ school was in the Oddfellows’ Hall in Keppel Street with Mr Henry Kemmis as Headmaster, 27 January 1874. For the next two years, the school classes were held in a succession of premises until the final buildings were completed. One original foundation student, T.B.U. Sloman recalls “the first school was held in Oddfellows’ Hall, Keppel St., Mr Kemmis and his boarders lived in a house next to the Bank of New South Wales in Russell St. Then school was held in a small room in the Market Tower, then in Mr Kemmis’ house, then in a cottage at the S.E. corner of the old ASC paddock”.
The new premises were located on a site originally set apart for a Bishop’s Court, and arrangements were made with the trustees of this site to hand over five acres to the Council of Trustees of All Saints’ College. It is this site where the new buildings – “two wings, each of two stories of strong brickwork” were erected. One wing, on an east-west line, with a southern aspect overlooking the city, contained a fine, large school hall, with the headmaster’s study attached, several classrooms, and above, on the upper storey, ample space for dormitories and adjuncts. The other wing, on a north-south line, with easterly aspect, comprised the headmaster’s residence, and necessary offices and further floor space on the upper storey for dormitories and other accommodation. In front of the building, an approach lined with Pinus Insignia and ornamental trees together, with shrubbery and a flower garden, was laid out. The architect was Mr E.C. Blacket, of Sydney.”
By the middle of 1875, the premises were completed and ready for occupation. The exact date is doubtful, but it was certainly about the middle of 1975 and from that date it assumed the name ‘All Saints’ College’.
In the early months of the school’s existence, situated as it was in temporary premises, opportunity for sport of any kind was somewhat limited, but after the occupation of the new building in 1875, the playground adjoining being sufficiently large for practice, sport began to take its fixed and inseparable part in the school life. On the adjoining hill overlooking the city of Bathurst was another important secondary school, St. Stanislaus’ College, which had been opened in September 1873, just four months before All Saints, and throughout the years, these two institutions have been constant and strenuous competitors in the field of sport.
Over the next four headmasters, the school continued to grow, with new buildings added, and student numbers, both boarding and day students. New classrooms, dormitories and in 1882 premises for a hospital were procured at the top of Russell St. A school chapel was planned, and with the Old Boys of the college raising the funds, plans were drawn up and a foundation stone laid in 1908. By July 1909, the chapel was ready for occupation, but ‘owing to a delay in completing the seating and other parts of the interior furnishings, it was not until late in 1910 that it was dedicated by Bishop Camidge’.
The fifth Headmaster, George Sydney Stiles, assumed control in 1911, when there had been a considerable decrease in school attendance, but he was soon able to correct the downturn and progress was made in numbers and academic achievements. However, with the outbreak of WW1, things were to change.
‘The Great War is an event of crucial importance in the history of All Saints’ College, bringing it great distinction through the achievements of its many Old Boys, but also tragedy, not only in the loss of its many splendid sons, but in the effect of the war crises upon the school itself.’
With many Old Bathurstians, older students and current staff enlisting with the British or Australian forces, financial pressures, and student and staff shortages, it became impossible for the school to continue operating.
On Mr Stiles’ departure, the State Education Department took action to acquire the site and buildings for a High School at Bathurst. The All Saints’ College property was purchased by the Government on 24 October 1919, for two thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds. There were to be some years before the site was properly developed, and it wasn’t occupied until 1926. Skeletons or remains of the old school buildings can still be ‘imagined’ at the present site of Bathurst High School. The Bathurst High Campus now commands a new title, Denison College of Secondary Education, with an enrolment of approximately 1,200 students.
Mrs Memory Sanders
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