A gold key presented at Nowra Public School in 1908 was taken to England by the recipient, but later returned to its town of origin some 42 years later.
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The story begins on July 11, 1908, when State Governor Sir Henry Rawson was invited to the Shoalhaven to open a new wing of what was then called Nowra Superior Public School.
Sir Rawson was hesitant about the visit but eventually agreed on the provision that it was classed “unofficial” and kept “as private as possible”.
But it was anything but- a welcoming party including MP Mark Morton, the mayors of Shoalhaven and Nowra, the Clyde Shire president and the officials of the school’s parents and citizens association waited for Sir Rawson at the train station upon his arrival.
The group moved to the Prince of Wales Hotel before arriving at the school, were an estimated crowd of 2000 people were waiting.
Senior and junior school cadets formed a guard of honour and the brass band played the National Anthem.
Traditionally, a day with such a visit would warrant a public holiday, but as this was on a Saturday Sir Rawson announced the children would be granted a day off the following week.
Prior to the official opening ceremony, Nowra mayor Robert Patterson presented the Governor with a gold key on behalf of the parents and citizens association. it was made of 15 carat gold, 9cm long and had an inscription detailing the date of the event. The key was safely packed in the Governor’s luggage when he left at 4pm that day.
The day was an exciting one for the town, so much so that a photo of the Governor in Nowra was turned into a postcard.
Will McLean purchased one and sent it to his mother, “have had a visit from the Governor,” he wrote. “Nowra is looking up.” This postcard latter returned to a private collection in Nowra 90 years later in 1998.
Siry Henry Rawson died in England in 1910, a short time after his visit.
The gold key was part of his estate, and 40 years later showed up in antique store in Plymouth, priced at £15.
Word about the key’s location traveled to Nowra and the parents and citizens association was of the view ex-students would purchase the key.
But, generous supporter of the school and proprietor of the town’s two movie theatres, Ted Potts donate the money for the purchase.
So the key was returned to Nowra where it was displayed at the school for many years, before it was moved to the Nowra Museum.
Madeline Crittenden
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
Madeline Crittenden is a journalist for Fairfax Media at the South Coast Register.
