THE SCHOOL

The first school teacher was Miss Julina Temby, a daughter of Mr W. Temby, the first storekeeper. She used a room of the verandah at the store as a school room.
When the church was built, the school moved to the church and remained there until the public school was opened in 1878. Mrs Ambrose was the first teacher. She was followed by Miss Jenkin then Mr Ryder. In 1882 Miss Alice B. Hinde was appointed.

Welfare Club
The inaugural meeting was held 7 April 1964 with the following officers elected: Lois Doeke, president; Dorothy Baker, secretary. Meetings were to be held the first Tuesday in each month with a 2/- membership fee. All mothers of children at the school attended this meeting.
Records show that strong support was given to the club with the teachers and children benefiting by the addition of equipment (eg duplicator, first aid kit, library books) and maintenance of library books, furniture and grounds.
Fundraisers included trading tables, raffles, children's frolic, luncheons, film evenings, fashion parades, garden party.
Members took advantage of all opportunities to learn more about current educational trends, road safety, first aid, and all subjects pertaining to their children's well-being.

WINDSOR CHURCH

The first church services and Sunday school lessons were held in the residences of Mr Francis Diment and Mr George Baker. On 30 September 1873 Sarah Ann, daughter of George Emery Baker laid the foundation stone for the new Primitive Methodist Church chapel. The building was completed and officially opened on 21 December 1873 and formed part of the Two Wells circuit of the Primitive Methodist Church, with Rev A. W. Wellington as the first minister. Mr George Emery Baker, founder of the township, generously gave the land on which the building was erected.

In the early years tea meetings and anniversaries were held regularly, also lectures given on Monday evenings following anniversaries.

Mr Cheney's tender of L80.9.6 was accepted to add the front porch to the building on 1910. By 1923 enquiries were made re a gas lighting plant and in 1927 an additional light was installed over the rostrum. The Ladies Guild had asked to have the boiler reconditioned and the trust agreed to pay the expenses involved.

A new cement block toilet was erected in 1952 and some 26 years later the toilet was modernised with costs being shared by the church and the tennis club. A further upgrading occurred in 1983 with costs shared again.

In 1958 a letter was received from the District Council of Mallala requesting permission of the Church Trust to close Chapel Street (between the church property and tennis club property) and transfer land to Windsor Tennis Club.

A very fast moving committee was formed in June and by August 1884, the foundation stone had been laid by Mr. George Baker who had donated the land for the School, Church and Institute.
The stone was laid at 2.30pm and the social event was followed by Dinner at 3.30pm and a Lecture at 7.00pm. "The proceedings for the day resulted in £60 being added to the institute funds". A contemporary newspaper report "....the walls of the building are now 7 feet high; The building, which will measure 65 feet, by 27 feet and 16 feet high will be sufficiently large enough to answer all the requirements of the district for many years to come. The cost including the furniture will be about £500.0.0.

The official opening by the local MP for the division of Yatala, Mr J H Bagster, was held on the 1 January, 1885. Mr Burton, the builder from Gawler, had purchased one gross of lamps and wooden chairs, which were assembled by Mr Schutt. By late 1885, a piano was purchased to provide the music for balls, dances, socials and musical entertainment.
The newspapers also reported:-
"The building which faces the Walleroo Road, whilst not over pretentious in its outward architecture, is a very neat design, being built of limestone, with cement dressings, and is capable of seating 250 persons. At one end is a platform extending the width of the building. On either side of the platform a room has been erected for the convenience of performers. The whole structure presents the appearance of durability. Light is supplied by means of four large windows, two on either side. Two handsome chandeliers, of tree lamps each, supply light for evening meetings."
"In the evening a concert was held in the new building, presided over by Mr J H Bagster MP. The room was uncomfortably packed, which caused the audience at times to be rather noisy. The babies were rather troublesome, giving the singers all their work to be heard. The whole concluded with a laughable farce by local talent, which would have gone well had the characters known their parts better."
Prior to the evening concert, the lecture was delivered by the Rev. W Jenkins of the Primitive Methodist Church with "The Gypsies" the subject matter.
An amalgamation of the Adelaide Mechanics Institute, the Literary Association and the SA Subscription Library occurred in 1856 to become the South Australian Institute. Under the control of a Board of Governors, this body was to include a Public Library and Museum, it was to conduct lectures on a variety of subjects and also to include, by way of affiliation, all of the Colony's cultural societies.

In 1884, after acting mainly for the Adelaide community, the organisation was renamed the "Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery" and then given the job of overseeing the network of country and suburban institutes which had sprung up over the previous thirty odd years. Also at this time, a new apd independent body, the Adelaide Circulating Library, relieved the Board of the business of circulating books on a subscription basis.
The Windsor Institute had a starting stock of books and added to them as money became available. The reading room opened at 7pm and closed at 10pm. Adjustments were occasionally made, like altering the start time to 7.30 pm and the day of operation from Wednesday to Tuesday. In 1887 it was decided to exchange library books with the Dublin Institute and in 1891, the library started to loan books. In addition, the circulation of book boxes had already been going for thirty years.
In the early days, it is not clear who managed the library for any length of time except that Mr Diment, one of the original committee members was noted as one of the first librarians. Mr White was librarian for 3 years up to 1923, then Mrs Whitington 13 years to 1936, Mrs C E Roberts 8 years to 1944, then Mrs Erica Baker from 1944 to 198339 years of service to the local community. Mrs Gwen Secomb then took over from 1983 to 1996 with Mrs Dot leak filling in on occasions. Then came Mrs Barbara Kennedy who after 22 years is still serving the community today.
Many institutes considered the central body was not servicing their interests and in 1898 formed a new association which became the governing body for institutes throughout South Australia - but government assistance continued to be provided through the Board until 1910. After that the institutes Association was incorporated with the Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery body, which then assumed responsibility for the distribution of both books and subsidies. In 1939, the bodies were separated again and the Association continued as the governing body and the channel for government assistance.
In 1924 a "wizard" lighting was installed - 2 lights in the hail and one for the stage. In 1935, a timely addition, a supper room was added in time for the 50th Anniversary celebrations.
In 1955 a generator was purchased and three years later was upgraded with a larger petrol tank to ensure it ran for the entire duration of the function. Within 12 months of that, electricity came to the district and when the power was connected, the Ladies Guild immediately purchased an electric stove.

 

 

Mr George Emery Baker