Dawson Public School

History

1950’s - 1960’s

Pnor to its development by the Department of Education, the school land was part of a peach orchard which fronted Jersey Road and was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Heyman.The 300-tree orchard had been planted by the Heymans around 1954, before the building of their house in 1958. In 1966, as part of their urban development plan, the Housing Commission gave notice of the resumption of most of Mr. and Mrs. Heyman’s five acre block, for $8000. The Housing Commission also acquired a similar amount of land from Mr. and Mrs. Payne, the Heyman’s neighbours to the east, with both blocks then reserved to become the future Dawson Public School.As part of the close-knit fringe community of Plumpton, the area at resumption had consisted of just a few houses scattered on properties along Jersey Road, serviced by bus from Rooty Hill once in the morning and again in the evening. The farmers and their families were naturally upset by the State Government’s decision to develop the area, for many had held their land for ten years or more, and were aware that huge housing estates would leave them with no livelihood.

The uncertainties and restrictions imposed by the land resumptions began the disintegration of this quiet farming area and its demise became absolute as one by one the neighhourhoods of Mt. Druitt were developed.

The Dawson Connection 

Peter Dawson

Peter Smith Dawson was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1882. Peter’s parents, Thomas and Alison, (nee Miller) were Scottish. His father was a plumber. There were ten children in his family, including himself.Peter Smith Dawson was a very famous singer that had a rich baritone voice. He started to sing publicly at the turn of the century and also to write his own songs. He went to England to record over there.After his career began in 1902, he sold more records than anyone else. His records are still sold in some shops. He recorded 2 500 different songs and sold thirteen million records.Peter Smith Dawson died in his sleep on 27 September, 1961 when he was 79 years old.Our school was named after Peter Dawson, but he died before it was built.

 The Dawson Property, Mt. Druitt

Local rumour has long decreed that Peter Dawson owned and lived in the building on Portion 11, in the Parish of Rooty Hill, County of Cumberland, presently known as ‘Rutherglen’- A Community Centre in Anderson Avenue, Blackett. This however was not proven. Portion 11 did have some connection with Peter Dawson, in that he stayed there on occasions, during the period it was owned by his brother, William Miller Dawson. In quiet country seclusion, for at least part of the week, during the mid-nineteen forties, Peter Dawson lived in a home located off Jersey Road, where Rutherglen is situated today.This property was bought early in November 1937, by William Miller Dawson, a Sydney Company Director. He had completed the purchase of all the land from approximately the present day Popendetta Road to Riddell Crescent in Jersey Road, stretching north into today’s suburb of Bidwill. William remained the owner until September 1946, when he sold the land to Robert Gilroy Potts.For most of his career, Peter Dawson resided in England, but he was in Australia between the years 1938 and 1947, for he had been on his eighth trip back to Australia when World War II broke out. Using a cottage in Haberfield, Sydney as his base, Peter Dawson helped with the Australian war effort by promoting bonds, touring army camps, entertaining the troops and doing radio performances, except for a period in 1942 when he toured New Zealand.

During these years in Australia, Peter Dawson acted as a director of his family’s firm ‘Thomas Dawson and Sons’ which provided tins and barrels, much needed during the war. It was a time when he obviously relished the rare opportunity to relax in the country at his brother’s Mt. Druitt Property.