School History

Cobar Public School was established on the 11th of March, 1878.  It is with pride that Cobar Public School claims that since such an early beginning, it has provided continuous education for the children of Cobar.  In 1879, the school was capable of holding 60 students, Cobar however, had a young population of around 200 - 250.  New buildings were completed in August 1883, and in 1912 Cobar Public School was the first State school to be provided with electric fans! 

Miss Kathleen Miles arrived at Cobar Infants School in February, 1952, she compared the playground to a "dusty bowl" and quickly set about, along with her young students, to clear the infants playground and plant some trees and gardens. Miss Miles and her young students are responsible for our  beautiful, shady school grounds.  She is honoured and held in high esteem at Cobar Public School, and in the Cobar Community, for her contributions to the growth of students and grounds alike.  In June, 1976, Kathleen Miles was awarded The British Empire Medal for Service to the Community, and the 'Kathleen Miles Citizenship Award' is presented each year to a worthy student in year six. 

"The first trees we planted were jacarandas in line with the Primary playground.  They were in small jam tins and the children could only dig holes deep enough to take the tins.  I'll never know how the trees managed to get their roots through the hard ground to survive.  I sent to the Zinc Corporation at Broken Hill for athel tree cuttings and most of the athel trees in the playground came from the original cuttings.  The late Tim Corbett brought some cedar trees and planted them in front of the weather shed to provide shade in those early days.  I, also, brought in some Old Man Saltbush form the river, and in 1963 dug out three river gum saplings with a spoon from Louth...Round about 1956 or 57 when there was plenty of rain the vegetaion was so high there was a danger of snakes.  By that time we had acquired some spades and the boys used to race to school to clear a patch."  Kathleen Miles *extract courtesy of 'Cobar Public School Centenary 1878-1978'

"Sixty years ago Cobar Public School (then Cobar Intermediate High School) was quite different to what it is today.  The Infants Department co-ordinated by Head Mistree Miss Kathleen Miles, consisted of two prefabricated buildings, each with four rooms, and situated where the Student Services Centre now stands.  There was also an army style barrack building just for senior student use where the school hall now stands, the northern end was for woodwork and the southern end for science.  In the 1970's the new Infants School was constructed, with new classrooms and school hall, including the "Miss K. Miles Memorial Resource Centre."

The years three to six students were housed in the old wooden building, with bare floors and no air conditioning.  There were open fires for wood heating in the winter, hence all the chimneys still visible on the wooden and the brick buildings facing Blakey Street.  All senior students occupied the old brick building which included a small Library, Home Science area, Staffroom and Headmaster's Office.  The Headmaster's toilet later became an office for his Administration Support Officer!" Mrs Jan Flint, Former CPS student and current employee.

"Original Buildings of Cobar Public School" *Photo courtesy of 'Cobar Public School Centenary 1878-1978'

"This faded photograph shows the Governer, Admiral Sir Harry Rawson, leaving Cobar School in 1907.  The writing on the school building reads 'Knowledge is Power'" *Photo courtesy of 'Cobar Founding Fathers' by William Clelland