Sites

A short distance north of the water reservoir the tree-lined site of the old school yards was identified. While no complete buildings could be seen within this area, a close inspection revealed at least one section of a rectangular stone foundation. From archival evidence it is possible to indicate that this foundation structure represents a later use of the school. As highlighted in the discussion on the aerial photographs, various changes have taken place to this site during the period covered by the aerial photographs, namely from 1951 to 1983. In some instances buildings were added and then removed again over time. A comparison between the available Google Earth imagery dated 8 October 2011 and the original school yard as depicted on the 1911 plan of the original mine village was made. This shows that the layout of the trees surrounding
the school yard site correlates perfectly with the original boundaries of the school yard as depicted on the 1911 plan. The original school was built in 1911 (SAB, PWD, 1881, 6711). Although the Voorspoed Mine closed down one year after the erection of the school, it is apparent that the facility still functioned for some time after the closure of the mine. According to the available archival evidence the school only closed down in 1927. The exact reasons for its long existence after the cessation of mining activities in 1912 are not presently clear. However, the possibility exists for the school to have continued due to the need for educational facilities in the local rural landscape. As a result the school may have functioned as a farm school where the children of local farmers would have been educated.