Pompoota Training Farm Schoolhouse/Assembly Hall opened 1917, South Australia
This substantial schoolhouse and hall was built specifically for soldier settlers who trained at the Pompoota Training Farm.
On the occasion of the building’s centenary a plaque was unveiled, reading -
“This plaque was unveiled on 22nd January 2017 by The Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, Premier of South Australia.
The plaque commemorates the centenary of the Pompoota Hall, built as a school and community facility on the Pompoota Training Farm.
The hall was officially opened on 22nd January 1917, by The Honourable Crawford Vaughan, Premier and Minister of Education.
The farm was established to train returning World War 1 servicemen in agricultural pursuits so that they could take up the land through the Soldiers Settlement Scheme and support themselves and their families.”
In keeping with Mr Vaughan’s late arrival in 1917, Jay Weatherill and his party arrived late for the Centenary celebrations. On each occasion the Premiers were transported down the river and escorted to Pompoota.
FOR CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS – NEW SCHOOL AT POMPOOTA – OPENED BY THE PREMIER
The training farm for returned soldiers, started less than 12 months ago, now presents an animated appearance. Rows of wood and iron cottages, some having canvas additions, house the families of many men who have come back after taking part in the Great War to devote their energies to the arts of peace.
As a township has sprung up a school was needed, and yesterday the Premier and Minister of Education (Hon. Crawford Vaughan) opened a new building on the high land at Pompoota to serve the double purpose of schoolhouse and social hall. The Premier was received by a guard of honour composed of 25 school children in the charge of the schoolmistress (Miss Bradley). A large number of the settlers gathered to witness the ceremony. After inspecting the children the party gathered outside the porch of the hall.
The Director of Irrigation and Reclamation Works (Mr S McIntosh), after introducing the Premier, remarked that when the scheme was mooted for the training of returned soldiers at Pompoota it was realised that one of the most essential requirements would be a hall for social and educational purposes.
Altogether seven buildings had been provided for (built by contractor Mr R H Elvage), including administrative offices and officers’ residences, and the hall was pushed on with as being the most urgently needed. He asked the Premier to declare the hall and schoolroom open.
Mr Vaughan apologized for being late. He feared it was setting a bad example to be late on the first day the school was opened.
This building no doubt would be the forerunner of many schools that would be built along the majestic river, schools that would serve the needs of the children of more men who would safely return to civil life from the front. (Ref: The Advertiser, Adelaide 23-1-1917)
“Farms for Returned Soldiers-Bill before Parliament. The Government proposes to deal liberally with the men who return to Australia from active service. The Premier (Hon. Crawford Vaughan) on Friday moved the second reading of a Bill to give concessions to returned soldiers which were not given to ordinary settlers. He said the Government had already received applications from men for assistance to get on the land.
It was proposed to establish practical training camps, so that the men might gain experience, and so that it might be decided whether they were capable of going on the land. If not capable they would not be likely to secure a block of land from the board. One proposal the Government had in view was to settle men on reclaimed irrigation lands. The proposal was to establish on a swamp area like Pompoota a training camp and put the men thereon under supervision.” (The Advertiser, Adelaide 11-12-1915.)
Pompoota Training Farm Schoolhouse/Assembly Hall opened 1917, South Australia
This substantial schoolhouse and hall was built specifically for soldier settlers who trained at the Pompoota Training Farm.
On the occasion of the building’s centenary a plaque was unveiled, reading -
“This plaque was unveiled on 22nd January 2017 by The Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, Premier of South Australia.
The plaque commemorates the centenary of the Pompoota Hall, built as a school and community facility on the Pompoota Training Farm.
The hall was officially opened on 22nd January 1917, by The Honourable Crawford Vaughan, Premier and Minister of Education.
The farm was established to train returning World War 1 servicemen in agricultural pursuits so that they could take up the land through the Soldiers Settlement Scheme and support themselves and their families.”
In keeping with Mr Vaughan’s late arrival in 1917, Jay Weatherill and his party arrived late for the Centenary celebrations. On each occasion the Premiers were transported down the river and escorted to Pompoota.
FOR CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS – NEW SCHOOL AT POMPOOTA – OPENED BY THE PREMIER
The training farm for returned soldiers, started less than 12 months ago, now presents an animated appearance. Rows of wood and iron cottages, some having canvas additions, house the families of many men who have come back after taking part in the Great War to devote their energies to the arts of peace.
As a township has sprung up a school was needed, and yesterday the Premier and Minister of Education (Hon. Crawford Vaughan) opened a new building on the high land at Pompoota to serve the double purpose of schoolhouse and social hall. The Premier was received by a guard of honour composed of 25 school children in the charge of the schoolmistress (Miss Bradley). A large number of the settlers gathered to witness the ceremony. After inspecting the children the party gathered outside the porch of the hall.
The Director of Irrigation and Reclamation Works (Mr S McIntosh), after introducing the Premier, remarked that when the scheme was mooted for the training of returned soldiers at Pompoota it was realised that one of the most essential requirements would be a hall for social and educational purposes.
Altogether seven buildings had been provided for (built by contractor Mr R H Elvage), including administrative offices and officers’ residences, and the hall was pushed on with as being the most urgently needed. He asked the Premier to declare the hall and schoolroom open.
Mr Vaughan apologized for being late. He feared it was setting a bad example to be late on the first day the school was opened.
This building no doubt would be the forerunner of many schools that would be built along the majestic river, schools that would serve the needs of the children of more men who would safely return to civil life from the front. (Ref: The Advertiser, Adelaide 23-1-1917)
“Farms for Returned Soldiers-Bill before Parliament. The Government proposes to deal liberally with the men who return to Australia from active service. The Premier (Hon. Crawford Vaughan) on Friday moved the second reading of a Bill to give concessions to returned soldiers which were not given to ordinary settlers. He said the Government had already received applications from men for assistance to get on the land.
It was proposed to establish practical training camps, so that the men might gain experience, and so that it might be decided whether they were capable of going on the land. If not capable they would not be likely to secure a block of land from the board. One proposal the Government had in view was to settle men on reclaimed irrigation lands. The proposal was to establish on a swamp area like Pompoota a training camp and put the men thereon under supervision.” (The Advertiser, Adelaide 11-12-1915.)