A BRIEF HISTORY OF

CHELTENHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL

CHELTENHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL CELEBRATES IT'S 150TH YEAR IN 2005.  

WE ARE THE 5TH OLDEST SCHOOL IN VICTORIA THAT IS STILL OPERATING.  

Our school is one of Victoria's oldest, having been established originally as a private school by Frederick and Fanny Meeres in 1855. Initially established in a single-room wooden dwelling near it's current location, the school was first called the Beaumaris Wesleyan School. In 1863 the school became a public school under the control of the National Schools Board, and was renamed Beaumaris Common School No. 84. In 1869 the school was relocated onto Crown Land in Charman Road, Cheltenham - it's current site.

Three years later in 1872, the school was again renamed, this time as State School No. 84 Beaumaris. It was to continue under this name until 1885, when it finally took on its current official name - State School No. 84 Cheltenham.

The size of the land originally allocated to the school was effectively doubled in 1910 following a submission by parents that land originally set aside temporarily for the school, be permanently allocated. This land comprises the current oval and sanctuary. Part of the reason for the parent's concern was the overcrowding in the school. The original building consisted of two rooms: one was 18' by 12' by 10' high (approx. 6m x 4m x 3m high), and the other was 18' by 24' by 10' high (approx 6m x 8m x 3m high). The smaller room housed 49 pupils and one teacher, while the larger housed 54 children and a teacher. The local media picked up the parent's concerns, and following a report in "The Age" newspaper, the Department arranged the lease of the local Church of England Hall (for 15 shillings a week). At the same time, approximately 4 acres of land at the back of the school, part of a Government reserve, was fenced in and made available for use as a playground area.

In 1911, a major redesign of the school was commissioned. This effectively trebled the size of the school, adding four new classrooms, two cloakrooms and an office. Of the six total classrooms, three are still used for that purpose today, two have been transformed into the main office and Administration office, and one is the current staffroom. It is also worth noting that our main entrance and foyer, with its beautiful curved archway, was originally built during the 1911 redevelopment - not as an entrance, but as a "lavatory"!!

Since the 1911 redevelopment, the school has added new classrooms in 1925 and 1937, a number of 'Bristol' buildings in the mid-1940's, a new hall and classrooms in 1964, extended the hall in 1989, completed a new Junior Wing in 1993, completed an upgrade of the buildings in 1997.  During this time, the staff and students of Cheltenham Primary School have become famous both locally and internationally. A former student Sir Robert Jackson, following a distinguished army career, was appointed the first Secretary General of the United Nations following the conclusion of World War II.

The creation of our sanctuary in 1971 out of an area used by students as a play area for over 100 years (and once the school rubbish dump) is one of the most significant projects undertaken by the school community. Other major additions to the school include the children's playground equipment, netball courts, cricket practice nets and PMP (Perceptual Motor Program) Room. In 1997, the school completed a major refurbishment and, perhaps for the first time in its history, the school facilities reflected the needs of the school population.  The Gazebo was constructed during 1999 by Cheltenham Primary School Parents and is named The Sir Robert Jackson Gazebo. In 2001, the asphalt area was resurfaced with green synthigrass with Bike Education lines and court lines.  In 2003, the Robyn Miller Community Centre was constructed in recognition of our then Principal Robyn Miller's contributions to the school.  In 2004 the oval was reseeded and new goal posts erected to create a lush playing surface.  Over the holidays of 2004-2005, the school community created a new front fence, entrance and garden areas to celebrate our 150th year in 2005.  Also under construction is our state of the art ICT /Media/ Library Centre to be completed by term 3 2005.

The following art work can be seen throughout the school reflecting student's talents; felt murals depicting the Cheltenham area today surround the hall walls, 3D clay murals around the gazebo, Environmental art panels on the oval fences, murals on the community centre and toilet walls and a large beach mural on the wall with our giant undercover sand pit.  An underwater feature mural is currently under construction to celebrate our birthday year.  This will be placed in the courtyard area by May 2005.

The photo on our web site is from 1998, since then many projects have been undertaken by the school community to create a rich, exciting, and beautiful environment for our children to learn, grow and play in.

To see our school as it was in 1998 click here.

Click on the possum below to return to our Home Page

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