Opening of Public Schools.
School at the Burra.
High holiday was observed in the Burra, on Friday, January 25, to celebrate the opening of the magnificient (sic) new school buildings which have just been erected there.
The building is one of the largest which has yet been erected by the Government for school purposes, and certainly it is not surpassed in appearance by any other school in the colony. An idea of its superior character may be gathered from the fact that it has cost nearly £7,000 and is constructed to accommodate no fewer than 800 children. It is situate on a commanding eminence on the east side of the Burra creek, and is almost opposite to the Institute. The style of architecture is similar to that which obtains in the new public schools elsewhere in the colony, principally Gothic. The frontage is about 200 feet, with an average depth of 80 feet and height of 25 feet. There is a bell turret in the centre about 60 feet high, on either side of which is a gablet about 20 feet wide, and at each end there is a wing extending 27 feet. The entrance is approached by a flight of 13 steps constructed of the best Mintaro flagging. The interior of the building is divided into tw (sic) rooms each 60 x 22 feet; four rooms 43×2 feet; six classrooms 18 x 20 feet, with seats ranged tier upon tier, desks, and all the furniture which the best ingenuity could devise; the teachers’ room, 18 x 20 feet; three lavatories, and other conveniences. The ventilation which is on Tobin’s method, is most complete, and cost alone nearly £300. The lobbies, lavatories, and passages are all paved with Mintaro flagging, and the building itself is constructed of fine bluestone from the Burra Mines quarry. In consequence of the irregularities of the ground the cost of the masonry was very high, being £500 more than that of the Norwood schools. The contractors who have so quickly performed this work are Messrs. Sara and Dunstan. The building was formally opened by the Minister, and a banquet afterwards took place.
