AGY-1855 | Sites Branch

Full description

Prior to the establishment of the Department of Public Instruction in May 1880, the Board of National Education (1848-66) and the Council of Education (1867-80) were responsible for the site aquisition, erection, and maintenance of public schools. The Sites Branch is first identified as a separate branch of the Department of Public Instruction in the Public Service List of 1928, but with staff appointments listed from 1902.(1)

The Sites Branch was responsible for the acquisition and disposal of sites for public schools. Sites were acquired as land resumptions, purchases, dedications, reservations, or gifts (2). Maintenance of the sites register was a major function of the branch.

In 1951 a Properties Division was established, and was composed of the sites branch, building branch, stores branch, painting and repair staff, furniture workshops, and school gardening staff.(3)


Endnotes
1.Public Service List 1928, p.88
2.Report of the Minister of Public Instruction for the year 1947, in Parliamentary Papers 1948-49-50, Vol 1, p.537
3.Public Service List 1951, p.119-20