Open morning at Araluen Cottage

The Ettalong Public School has held an open morning at "Araluen Cottage", a house relocated to the school grounds, to celebrate its relocation and establishment as the "Little School House".
This facility provides child minding to volunteers working in various areas of the school, such as reading in classrooms, canteen, uniform shop, gardening, craft classes, library, P & C meetings and fundraising activities.
The Little School House is fully staffed by volunteers and financially supports itself through donations.
It also enables pre-schoolers to orientate themselves into a school environment.
The P&C Association uses Araluen for a variety of activities including meetings, craft classes and the preparation of fundraising events.
Araluen Cottage was originally owned by Gus and Connie Hamilton.
The Hamilton family lived in the house for 35 years. They called their home "Araluen" after the South Coast township where Gus was born and raised.
In 1960, the house was constructed in Piper Street, Woy Woy, to lock-up stage by local builders.
On Gus’ retirement, the house was completed by Gus and his two eldest sons-in-law.
Gus passed away in 1974 and Connie continued to live in the house until her death in 1995.
The Piper Street site was being redeveloped, so Araluen was kindly donated by local builders, Craig and Bruce Hutchings.
The Ettalong P & C Association funded the removal of the house relocated to its present site in the school grounds at a cost of $5000.
Araluen was then renovated and extended by 10 women who participated in the Gosford TAFE Outreach Building Maintenance Course.
Under the Guidance of builder Leigh Greenwood, the group completed extensive renovations and additions including painting the cottage inside and out, repairing ceilings and cornices, building a verandah and shaded sandpit area as well as landscaping.
Unfortunately the funding for the TAFE Outreach course was cut, just four weeks before completion.
The remaining work was completed by builders, electricians and plumbers.
On this day parents, staff, volunteers, Member for Peats Marie Andrews and members of the Hamilton family, who first owned the house, joined together to celebrate the relocation of the house and the establishment of this facility at Ettalong School.