Tomorrow the creatures of the night come out to play in the Lithgow CBD for Halloween.

We’re expecting a case of thousands.

On Sunday there will be something for everyone amidst the ghosts of the pioneers with the annual family day at the Hartley Historic site.

All we need is for our fickle spring weather to cooperate.

Towards the end of the 19^th century it was truly a case of keeping the kids away from the temptations of the evil grog.

Oakey Park back then was the village of New Vale (when did it change?) and a village school was planned.

And residents were not happy with the chosen location.

In 1899 they petitioned the Minister for Public Infrastructure to change plans. The site, ready with a temporary school, was next door to a brewery. 

Our students “have to listen to all sorts of language from drunken men!”

There were also ‘sickly odours leaving children unwell’ and ‘brewery waste in the creek’.

But the school went ahead, the brewery remained next door, and recently the Zig Zag School celebrated 125 years of happy co-existence.