b'A H I S T O R Y O F C O O G E E P R E Pproposed that a second floor be added to the Hall. This was com-pleted in 1936.The cost of building the Church had been 5,790, an enor-mous sum for the pioneer congregation of 82 communicants tofind. Part of this cost was met by subdividing the northern part ofthe Churchs land, and selling off building blocks between CookandAbbeyStreets.Thecongregationwasabletoraiseanother500 but a debt in excess of 2,000 proved a heavy burden for thecongregation for many years to come. This saga perhaps explains the willingness of the Church eldersto grant a lease of the School Hall to Bill Nimmo in 1914. Thispartnership of a Presbyterian Church and a non-denominationalprivate school is probably unique in New South Wales.The school had an auspicious beginning, with twenty-sevenpupils:Barkell, Albert Ernest Goldrick (ii)Rau, NoelBlashki, Keith (boarder) Jackson Rich Blashki, Donald A.(boarder) Joynton-Smith, Thea Roberts, TomBurton Kindon (boarder) RobinsonDay Lawson, Thomas Samuels Dorhauer (boarder) Livingston Scott (boarder)Everett, Samuel Charles Myers, Wilfred M. Selkirk, D.R.Fraser, D. Nutt Smith (of Bondi)Goldrick (i) Pearce, Harry StuartSmith (of Randwick)Bill Nimmo was able to advertise his excellent qualifications,and he had already acquired a formidable reputation as a teacher.Several pupils from the Sydney Preparatory School, such as BertBarkell and Tom Roberts, came with him to the new school andtheir brothers followed.NimmowasalsofortunateintheoccupantoftheManse.Reverend C.H. Talbot had been a school teacher in Victoria beforetraining for the ministry and his great passion in life was in thefield of education. He had fostered a close relationship between theparish and Claremont College for girls, which was at that time con-sideredalmostaPresbyterianschool.SowhenNimmosschoolopened in the congregations buildings, Talbot not only publicised2 3'