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Dunsandel School using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
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TitleDunsandel School using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library
DescriptionSelwyn School was established on what was planned to be the main road south, but unfortunately the Dunsandel township was built on both sides of the railway line, some distance away, and so there was a move to build a new school closer to the centre of population.
A public meeting was held in the hotel [1] in Selwyn Town to decide on a site. A further meeting was held soon after in the hall at Dunsandel and both meetings agreed that the reserve at Dunsandel (now the domain) was the best site for both Selwyn & Dunsandel townships. A further meeting [2] was held in the hall in December to inform the residents that the Board of Education had rejected the recommendation and suggested a site somewhere in the neighbourhood of rural section 12593.
Mr Sowden promised 2 acres at £30 per acre in the vicinity and the meeting recommended this proposal to the Board. The school was, however, built on RS9246.
The Board directed all schools in North Canterbury to hold a public meeting of the householders in every school district on 27 January 1879 [3]. In districts such as Dunsandel, where there was, as yet, no school building, the hall was used.
In subsequent years the school building was used for the householders’ meetings but the hall appeared to be used periodically for larger events such as concerts in aid of school funds.
An advertisement for a concert [4] on Friday 7th December 1906, in aid of the children's prize funds at Dunsandel School heralded a large attendance, in the hall, at a very successful event [5]. An excellent programme of music, songs, etc., was gone through to the evident satisfaction of all present. The master, Thomas Irvine, and members of the school committee went to a good deal of trouble to arrange the concert in the hall.
A similar, well-attended concert was held in the hall in December 1910 [6]. Songs, part songs and playettes were given by the children of the school. Misses Hepburn and Hamilton, and Messrs Hamilton and Robinson contributed songs and Misses Thornton and Hamilton were accompanists.
A social and dance was held in the hall on New Year's night 1919 to raise funds for the school prizes [7]. There was a large attendance.
Those who assisted with the programme were Misses Brennan, Owers, Stewart and L. Mead, and Mesdames Cahill, Hammond, McEwan, Pascoe and Brown, and Mr F. Lill.
A letter to the Editor of the Press complained that dances in some towns were banned by District Health Officer, but the Dunsandel one occurred, maybe illegally [8].
In April 1920, a concert was held in the hall [9] and, despite the inclement weather, was well attended.
The programme, which was contributed by past and present pupils of the school, was listened to most appreciatively by the audience. The daisy chain drill by a company of girls was a most popular item, the beautiful chain of flowers being manipulated in such a manner as to create a very fine spectacular effect.
The programme consisted of choruses by the children, duets by Misses J. Smith and L. Amor, Molly Lill and Annie McPherson, solos by Lila Amor, J. Rapley, Alec McPherson and Telford Aldridge; recitations by Doris Manson, Annie McPherson, Allen Walker, Alec McPherson and Gordon Chatterton, the prologue and epilogue by Alec McPherson.
At the conclusion of the concert the chairman, D. T. Wraight, on behalf of the committee, thanked the audience for their attendance, Mr Smith, head teacher, for the care and attention he had displayed in training the children, Miss Douds, assistant teacher, for similar help, Mrs Smith and lady friends for gifts of flowers and assistance in decorating the hall, the performers and all who had in any way assisted to make the event the success that it undoubtedly was.
After the concert the hall was cleared and dancing indulged in to music supplied by Miss Stewart and the Misses R. and M. Lill. It was anticipated that approximately £10 would have been raised.
In the 1920s there was a greater reliance on outside performers.
The famous “Lyric Four” from Christchurch, assisted by pupils of the Dunsandel School gave a concert on Saturday November 28th 1925 in the hall, again in aid of the Prize Fund [10].
At the end of December 1925, the school breakup and prize giving consisted of a sports day in the domain [11]. In the evening, a euchre competition and dance was held in the hall. Although the attendance was small, a very enjoyable time was spent by those present.
A "hard-up" social was held in the hall in June 1925 in aid of the school funds [12]. There was a large attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.
The grand march was led by Miss H. Cruise and Mr G. McDonald, and the grotesque and comical costumes caused considerable merriment. Excellent music was supplied by McDonald's Orchestra, of Rakaia.
A “Grand Concert” by the Kiwi Sunshine Players was advertised for August 1926 in the hall, again for school funds [13].
The pattern changed in May 1927 [14] when the first of a fortnightly series of euchre and dance socials was held in the hall, under the auspices of the School Committee. These were well attended. The first prizes in the euchre tournament were won by Mrs J. H. Skinner and Mr J. Garland. A lucky spot waltz was won by Mrs Forster and Mr T. Jamieson.
The funds were to be put towards purchasing a piano for the school.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1878-1927SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandel
DescriptionSelwyn School was established on what was planned to be the main road south, but unfortunately the Dunsandel township was built on both sides of the railway line, some distance away, and so there was a move to build a new school closer to the centre of population. A public meeting was held in the hotel [1] in Selwyn Town to decide on a site. A further meeting was held soon after in the hall at Dunsandel and both meetings agreed that the reserve at Dunsandel (now the domain) was the best site for both Selwyn & Dunsandel townships. A further meeting [2] was held in the hall in December to inform the residents that the Board of Education had rejected the recommendation and suggested a site somewhere in the neighbourhood of rural section 12593.
Mr Sowden promised 2 acres at £30 per acre in the vicinity and the meeting recommended this proposal to the Board. The school was, however, built on RS9246.
The Board directed all schools in North Canterbury to hold a public meeting of the householders in every school district on 27 January 1879 [3]. In districts such as Dunsandel, where there was, as yet, no school building, the hall was used.
In subsequent years the school building was used for the householders’ meetings but the hall appeared to be used periodically for larger events such as concerts in aid of school funds.
An advertisement for a concert [4] on Friday 7th December 1906, in aid of the children's prize funds at Dunsandel School heralded a large attendance, in the hall, at a very successful event [5]. An excellent programme of music, songs, etc., was gone through to the evident satisfaction of all present. The master, Thomas Irvine, and members of the school committee went to a good deal of trouble to arrange the concert in the hall.
A similar, well-attended concert was held in the hall in December 1910 [6]. Songs, part songs and playettes were given by the children of the school. Misses Hepburn and Hamilton, and Messrs Hamilton and Robinson contributed songs and Misses Thornton and Hamilton were accompanists.
A social and dance was held in the hall on New Year's night 1919 to raise funds for the school prizes [7]. There was a large attendance.
Those who assisted with the programme were Misses Brennan, Owers, Stewart and L. Mead, and Mesdames Cahill, Hammond, McEwan, Pascoe and Brown, and Mr F. Lill.
A letter to the Editor of the Press complained that dances in some towns were banned by District Health Officer, but the Dunsandel one occurred, maybe illegally [8].
In April 1920, a concert was held in the hall [9] and, despite the inclement weather, was well attended.
The programme, which was contributed by past and present pupils of the school, was listened to most appreciatively by the audience. The daisy chain drill by a company of girls was a most popular item, the beautiful chain of flowers being manipulated in such a manner as to create a very fine spectacular effect.
The programme consisted of choruses by the children, duets by Misses J. Smith and L. Amor, Molly Lill and Annie McPherson, solos by Lila Amor, J. Rapley, Alec McPherson and Telford Aldridge; recitations by Doris Manson, Annie McPherson, Allen Walker, Alec McPherson and Gordon Chatterton, the prologue and epilogue by Alec McPherson.
At the conclusion of the concert the chairman, D. T. Wraight, on behalf of the committee, thanked the audience for their attendance, Mr Smith, head teacher, for the care and attention he had displayed in training the children, Miss Douds, assistant teacher, for similar help, Mrs Smith and lady friends for gifts of flowers and assistance in decorating the hall, the performers and all who had in any way assisted to make the event the success that it undoubtedly was.
After the concert the hall was cleared and dancing indulged in to music supplied by Miss Stewart and the Misses R. and M. Lill. It was anticipated that approximately £10 would have been raised.
In the 1920s there was a greater reliance on outside performers.
The famous “Lyric Four” from Christchurch, assisted by pupils of the Dunsandel School gave a concert on Saturday November 28th 1925 in the hall, again in aid of the Prize Fund [10].
At the end of December 1925, the school breakup and prize giving consisted of a sports day in the domain [11]. In the evening, a euchre competition and dance was held in the hall. Although the attendance was small, a very enjoyable time was spent by those present.
A "hard-up" social was held in the hall in June 1925 in aid of the school funds [12]. There was a large attendance, and a very enjoyable evening was spent.
The grand march was led by Miss H. Cruise and Mr G. McDonald, and the grotesque and comical costumes caused considerable merriment. Excellent music was supplied by McDonald's Orchestra, of Rakaia.
A “Grand Concert” by the Kiwi Sunshine Players was advertised for August 1926 in the hall, again for school funds [13].
The pattern changed in May 1927 [14] when the first of a fortnightly series of euchre and dance socials was held in the hall, under the auspices of the School Committee. These were well attended. The first prizes in the euchre tournament were won by Mrs J. H. Skinner and Mr J. Garland. A lucky spot waltz was won by Mrs Forster and Mr T. Jamieson.
The funds were to be put towards purchasing a piano for the school.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date1878-1927SourcePapers PastLocationDunsandelPhoto Mr Smith
Courtesy of Miss M. Wraight
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Dunsandel School using the First Dunsandel Hall/Library (1878-1927). Selwyn Stories, accessed 06/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5505
