Life on the West Island -The Light on the Hill

Public education got a slow start after the British conquest of the West Island. There were no public schools in the colony of New South Wales for 60 years after first settlement, and it was not until the Public Instruction Act in 1880 that the colonial government established a network of (mostly rudimentary) public schools and made education compulsory. Prior to that, there were some private schools, mostly run by religious organisations, with many having a limited intake of fee-paying students. Most citizens of the colony could not read or write.

But long before the government decided that public education was desirable, community groups began to spring up, teaching literacy, mathematics, languages and vocational skills to the general public, usually free or for a low cost. Most prominent among these were schools of mechanics, schools of arts and schools of mines. In 1833, the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts (SMSA) opened its doors in Pitt Street, Sydney, where it still operates after 192 years of continuous service. SMSA offered public self-improvement lectures from prominent citizens on subjects as diverse as deportment, cooking, evolution and political philosophy. In common with other similar schools, it had an extensive circulating library of fiction and non-fiction books, newspapers and reference material, which is still a popular feature of SMSA in 2025. Its programme includes book launches, book clubs, craft networks and games groups including chess and Mah Jong.

It also offers occasional excursions, and Life on the West Island took part in a recent tour of three Schools of Arts to the South Coast, visiting Coalcliff, Gerringong and Berry. Perhaps the most interesting was the still functional Clifton School of Arts between Coalcliff and Scarborough. It is situated on the Grand Pacific Drive, which stretches 140 km from Loftus in Royal National Park to Nowra. This is perhaps the answer of New South Wales to Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road! Right near the School of Arts is the spectacular Seacliff Bridge, much of which is suspended above the ocean, beach and rocky cliffs. The bridge was opened in 2005 and has become a major tourist attraction. It is 665 metres long and is said to be a prime whale watching platform.

The Clifton School of Arts stands on the lands of the Dharawal nation, adjacent to the ancient Wodi Wodi track, traversed for thousands of years along the coast by the Indigenous people who were the traditional custodians of this land and retain their continuing connection to land, water and community of the area.

The original Clifton School of Arts was established in 1880 when Alexander Stuart (owner of the local Coalcliff coal mine and later Premier of NSW) gave the use of a room in an old weatherboard house (across the road from the existing building) for the purpose of providing classes for young workers. This became the first home for the School of Arts. The area grew steadily through the exploitation of the local coal deposits and by 1888 Clifton was an important commercial centre with both coach and railway terminals. Plans were made to replace the original School of Arts with a more substantial building.

However, times soon became difficult for the Illawarra with continuing industrial unrest including lengthy and bitterly contested strikes. There were also major mining disasters in 1887 and 1902 in which several hundred men and boys were killed. Added to this was the problem of the location of the coal and associated mining and shipping difficulties which meant that the mines were always economically marginal.

In 1910, the Coalcliff Colliery miners went out on strike for six months and it was during this time that the existing Clifton School of Arts was built. The cost of £100 was raised by public subscription, the land was donated by the mining company and the striking miners provided the labour.

The first stage consisted of four rooms on two storeys and although the School was really meant to be a much larger building, given the changed economic circumstances of the area the planned hall at the back of the building was never added. Although the School was built at Clifton, Scarborough (formerly South Clifton) had become the centre for growth and so Clifton’s population steadily declined as the mine closed and miners sought work elsewhere. The partially-completed building operated as a School of Arts for a number of years and later became the local general store. Later still it provided a home and studio space for local artists.

Over the years the building deteriorated badly, and it looked as though it would have to be demolished. In 1996, however, a new School of Arts Committee was formed and fundraising and lobbying for the restoration began. Grants were received from Wollongong City Council, NSW Heritage Commission and private donors but of course nothing would have happened without the efforts and enthusiasm of the local community whose energies have brought the building back to life continue to support it as a community facility. The CSA was reopened in 2003.

Since then, Clifton School of Arts Inc has repaired, sealed and stabilised the western wall of the CSA, repaired and, in some cases, renewed windows, repainted the interior and exterior of the building, installed new interior lighting, a safety rail and lighting on the front stairs, and a new kitchen.

The current School of Arts Committee is determined to complete the building that the Clifton miners intended in 1911. In 2021, Wollongong City Council approved a development application to provide safe access and facilities for those with mobility issues, accessible parking and a small multi-function gallery space at the rear of the existing heritage building.

Clifton School of Arts now hosts exhibitions, speakers and an annual writing festival. It has once again become the Light on the Hill intended by its original West Island founders 145 years ago.