Otama School and District
Southland, New Zealand
A Short History
Otama school was opened on July 9 1883.
There was an initial disagreement about the original choice of site for the school. The first two suggestions were deemed to be unsuitable because of swampiness and locality, but a local landowner, a Mr A. Stewart, agreed to swap 10 acres of his property for one of the unsuitable propositions. This is where the school is now sited - on the intersection of Otama Road and McBain Road.
In 1882, the appointed architect drew up plans to build a school for 75 pupils as well as a teacher's residence.
On Jan 11, 1883, the tenders for construction were let for 435 pounds. The school was built during March and April of that year.
On May 24th, 1883, a concert and dance was held. This was the first function of its type held at Otama.
Mr James McLaughlin was appointed teacher on July 2nd, 1883.
The school was opened on the 9th of July on that year.
A shelter shed and a coal shed were constructed in 1885.
Concerts and dances were held in the shelter shed until the hall was built in 1892
According to records, the old school was a long gabled building running east to west with windows facing east and its one door opening into a small porch on the south side.
There was an open fireplace in the south wall and the seats were tiered with long desks for the pupils. The toilets were separate little sheds placed some distance apart and some distance from the school. "The work of the school was very much interfered with by the noise made by the fowls and other animals around the building."
Otama school was opened on July 9 1883.
There was an initial disagreement about the original choice of site for the school. The first two suggestions were deemed to be unsuitable because of swampiness and locality, but a local landowner, a Mr A. Stewart, agreed to swap 10 acres of his property for one of the unsuitable propositions. This is where the school is now sited - on the intersection of Otama Road and McBain Road.
In 1882, the appointed architect drew up plans to build a school for 75 pupils as well as a teacher's residence.
On Jan 11, 1883, the tenders for construction were let for 435 pounds. The school was built during March and April of that year.
On May 24th, 1883, a concert and dance was held. This was the first function of its type held at Otama.
Mr James McLaughlin was appointed teacher on July 2nd, 1883.
The school was opened on the 9th of July on that year.
A shelter shed and a coal shed were constructed in 1885.
Concerts and dances were held in the shelter shed until the hall was built in 1892
According to records, the old school was a long gabled building running east to west with windows facing east and its one door opening into a small porch on the south side.
There was an open fireplace in the south wall and the seats were tiered with long desks for the pupils. The toilets were separate little sheds placed some distance apart and some distance from the school. "The work of the school was very much interfered with by the noise made by the fowls and other animals around the building."
The students of 1902.
The 1900 School and pupils. The scanned CD records will provide names - at least of the families shown here.
The first decade families were:
Argyle, Anderson, Archibald, Baker, Baxter, Bruce, Chisolm, Clelland, Cross, Dickson, Dodds, Dillon, Forbes, Fanel, Graham, Hunter, Hartley, Henderson, Key, Logan, McAllan, Manson, McBain, Mee, McGillvray, McEachern, McGlaughlan, McKay, McMeekin, O'Hara, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Tayles, Walker, Watt, Williams, Wishart and Whyte.
Argyle, Anderson, Archibald, Baker, Baxter, Bruce, Chisolm, Clelland, Cross, Dickson, Dodds, Dillon, Forbes, Fanel, Graham, Hunter, Hartley, Henderson, Key, Logan, McAllan, Manson, McBain, Mee, McGillvray, McEachern, McGlaughlan, McKay, McMeekin, O'Hara, Robertson, Smith, Stewart, Tayles, Walker, Watt, Williams, Wishart and Whyte.
1923
Names on this roll include; Harris, Martin, Pope, Donaldson, Haugh, Logan, Clelland, Byars, Cross, McCoskery, Price, Dillon and White.
Historic School Registers and Photos
In 2009, during the refurbishment of the school, the complete set of school registers dating from 1884 and many old photos were uncovered hidden away in forgotten cupboards. These images and registers were scanned and recorded on DVD. On the left is a photo from 1923. On the right is a sample of a section of the girls' 1885 register.
These images may be of interest to those who wish to research their family history. All files are in high quality .tiff file format so that they will print to a good quality.
In 2009, during the refurbishment of the school, the complete set of school registers dating from 1884 and many old photos were uncovered hidden away in forgotten cupboards. These images and registers were scanned and recorded on DVD. On the left is a photo from 1923. On the right is a sample of a section of the girls' 1885 register.
These images may be of interest to those who wish to research their family history. All files are in high quality .tiff file format so that they will print to a good quality.
Obtaining a copy of the history CD / DVD
You may contact the school for a copy of the registers and photos on a disk.
The information is recorded on both DVD and CD.
If your computer is is an older model, you may not have a DVD drive capable of reading the information. If so, the information will need to be delivered on CD (6 of them).
To check for DVD capability, look closely at the CD drive. If it has a DVD logo (shown) then you will be able to read the material from a single DVD.
Cost of the disks - $10.00
You may contact the school for a copy of the registers and photos on a disk.
The information is recorded on both DVD and CD.
If your computer is is an older model, you may not have a DVD drive capable of reading the information. If so, the information will need to be delivered on CD (6 of them).
To check for DVD capability, look closely at the CD drive. If it has a DVD logo (shown) then you will be able to read the material from a single DVD.
Cost of the disks - $10.00
Can you help?
To keep this website interesting, we would like to regularly update the material to include old photos and information that viewers wish to share on the history of Otama School. Please email the image(s) and information to the school.
To keep this website interesting, we would like to regularly update the material to include old photos and information that viewers wish to share on the history of Otama School. Please email the image(s) and information to the school.