Gawler Primary School Nixon Terrace

**Fast Facts**
Type of organisation:	Government
Street name:	Nixon
Street suffix:	Terrace
Town or locality:	Gawler
Date established:	1878
Business or purpose:	School

On February l8th, 1876, it was announced that a Model School would be built in Gawler. This announcement followed a visit to Gawler by the Hon. E. Ward, Minister of Education at the time, and Mr. J. A. Hartley ihe Director of Education. On December 8th of the same year, the tender of Mr. Tardif for the building of the new school was accepted. the contract price being €4,695.0.0. Nowadays this school would cost in the vicinity of a million dollars.

On April 12rh, 1877 lhe Foundation Stone of the School was laid by the Mayor, the Hon. James Martin, in the presence of the Governor of South Australia, Sir W. W. Cairns. lt is obvious that Mr. Martin was held in very high esteem for although the Governor was present, Mr. Martin was chosen to perform this ceremony. He had opened his foundry in 1848 and had been a Member of Parliament as well as Mayor. The eventual cost of the building was €4,93 1.l8.0 and accommodation was provided for 600 children.

The School was eventually opened on January 24th,1878, in the presence of the Minister of Education Sir Arthur Blyth and the President of the Council of Education, Mr. J. A. Hartley.

An official luncheon was held at one of the local hotels, and we can be sure that the new building was toasted by those present, for it was a real red-letter day for Gawler.