Papatotara & District History - Old Papatotara School moved for new build, 1957

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Central & Western Murihiku Southland Archive

Papatotara & District History - Old Papatotara School gets moved to build new school, during December 1957: This shows an event that has to be seen to be believed... read more below. These photos were taken by David Erskine, of Westwood Farm, grandson of the district's earliest European settler West of the Waiau, Hugh Erskine, and donated to the Community Archive by David's son, Quinton Erskine. The Erskine children of the first generations here attended this school and the later generations attended the new replacement school. This new school is shown in another entry in these Community Archives, under entry number CWA.013.036.009 and we believe this is at its 75th reunion in 1971. MOVING THE OLD TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW: According to the donor, when the old Papatotara School had ended its days and it needed to be replaced, they had to move it off its site to allow the building of the new school. So in typical Southland fashion and with NZ no.8 wire creativity, the local farmers gathered together their bulldozers and their tractors, took the schoolhouse off its foundations and pulled for all they were worth, moving the building out of the way, so the new one could be erected! EARLY HISTORY: It is reported by the family, that when the first school at Papatotara was opened, Hugh Erskine, the earliest local settler, was responsible. Prior to this, Papatotara children, including the Erskines, had to go across the river mouth by boat and board with families at Orepuki or Koromiko, during the weeks, to get to school. Hugh Erskine was first to settle and farm 'West of the Waiau' as the area of Papatotara used to be known as. "Ben" Erskine a son of Hugh & Agnes Erskine, answers questions about the Papatotara school below - his full interview can be seen elsewhere in our Community Archives. But in Mark Hanger's book, 'PAPATOTARA - from Bush to Pasture', he has the history of the Papatotara School as being: - June 1895, Hugh Erskine's application for school at Waiau Mouth, refused. - 1895, Hugh Erskine set up his own school to teach his own & other children - 1895, Miss Fanny or 'Pop' Nickless was employed by Hugh Erskine to teach - late 1896, a further application is granted, providing suitable rooms found - 1896, for four months Fanny Nickless taught, before the school was closed - 1897, after the school closure, Hugh Erskine funded this to keep it open - April 1898, Papatotara Householders apply for school to re-open, granted - 1898, Miss Nickless is again appointed the teacher at the re-opened school - 1899, a new fifty pupil, two-roomed school has plans drawn up for erection - 1901, a school residence is also erected, this was for a two room dwelling - 1913, teachers at this time are Mrs Stancombe and Miss Helen McEwan - Feb 1914, alterations to expand the size of school are finally completed RECOLLECTIONS FROM BEN (EBENEZER) ERSKINE: "Erskine’s employed the first teacher. There were Pap’ settlers living up the back road (Settlement road). Hugh got them coming to the school. Hugh paid Fanny Nickless to teach. The first school started, April 23rd 1890, with Fanny Nickless as Head Teacher. He was refunded by the Board. The Education Board closed the school when there was only the Erskine family left attending. (Sawmill fires and lack of work). Later on the settlers children returned when the Mills were rebuilt. It was one room, later on another room was added, making the school a two roomed school. The school that stands today (1990) started in the 1950’s and stands in the same place as the old school. Papatotara School closed in 1980." This new school is now a house. Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the Papatotara School, both old and new and events held here, over the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page.