Closed 29th November 2003
Closed due to falling Roll numbers & the amalgamation of country schools. Matamau School was established in 1887 as a result of the local parents frustration. Prior to 1887, children travelled to Mokotuku School by train, leaving home at 7am in order to catch the morning train at the Matamau Station. Once arriving in Mokutuku, the school was a further 1 mile walk for t
hem. They returned home on the afternoon train, arriving back at Matamau at 5.30pm. The decision to start the Matamau School, began as a discussion by parents, when the afternoon train returned very late, and it was near midnight when the children got home to their beds. The evening train had been delayed, and passengers returning to Matamau from the Hawkes Bay Races, held in Hastings on the 17th of March 1887, did not arrive at Matamau until well after 8.00pm. Parents were alarmed to see their children on the train arrive so tired and so late. Anders Larsen's home, and assistance was given by Cannon Webb in the need to set up a local school. As a result of all this, Matamau School became a reality. Mr Thomson was elected first principal, having previously set up Norsewood School, and Mr Larsen offered 2 rooms of his house to be used as the school.
15 slate equipped children gathered at Mr Larsen's house on 27 July 1887. And so our Matamau School history began here .........................................
[[ see page 17 in the 1962 75th Jubilee Magazine / Album (4) in Photos ]]
[[ see page 4 in the 1987 Centennial Magazine / Album (5) in Photos ]]
