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Robin Hood Bay School, Port Underwood, Marlborough, New Zealand, ran from 1886 to 1917. Helen and Henry Stace, who owned the Robin Hood Bay run, had six children of primary school age and, accordingly, were entitled to half the salary of a teacher paid by the Marlborough Education Board. As the older children moved on, sons of friends were invited to the school to make up the required number. Thus the isolated Robin Hood Bay Public School became a boarding establishment for boys and, as its reputation grew, it attracted students from families of clergy, law, medicine, business, public services, politics and farming and as far afield as Dunedin and Auckland. The average number of pupils at any one time varied between six and 10 and the two Stace daughters were the only girls ever on the roll. Over 31 years, a total of 163 children experienced some of their schooling at Robin Hood Bay. Helen's work as matron is described in The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Volume 2".
As Helen and Henry's great grandson, I am keen to write a history of this school which combined formal education with imparting skills such as milking cows, churning butter, killing and dressing sheep, fishing, sailing, bush craft and pig hunting. I would love to hear from anyone who has family who attended thie school.
Michael Stace ja.mi.@xtra.co.nz'