Hello Liz, Bill, Jenny, thank you - Grannie's book states "St Leonards Pub. Girls School Sept.1889" and is signed "L.P.Dixson". In the book Government Schools of New South Wales, the St Leonards school was a Special Public School in 1889 - so I'm missing the 'Girls' word. I'll look in the Archives in Brief and also the Sands. And yes, I am looking in the Hunter Valley - unless of course this school was for boarders - which I hadn't really considered, but I think the family would have been financial. many thanks, this is a very helpful and informative list. regards dorothy