150 years: Camberwell Primary School

Learn about the history of Camberwell Primary School, one of Victoria's oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
290 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, 3124
Opened:
19 August 1867
School type:
Primary
School number:
888
Other names:
Camberwell Common School, Camberwell State School

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The history of Camberwell Primary School

  • 1867

    Camberwell opened as a common school in 1867.

    The first head teacher was J. Perrott.

    There were 24 students enrolled when the school opened. By the third week, there were 80 students enrolled.

  • 1868

    A new brick building big enough for 150 students was opened. 

  • 1870s

    The school became a state school at some stage between 1873 and 1878.

  • 1890

    Black and white photograph of students in front of the Camberwell Primary School Camberwell Primary School in 1890 when it was known as Camberwell State School. Source: State Library of Victoria

  • 1900

    The number of students had grown to 1,000. The size of the school was made bigger with more classrooms added.

  • 1907

    Woodwork training for boys started in 1907 in a leased building.

  • 1923

    A Mother's Club was started to raise money for the school.

  • 1926

    Camberwell became a central school. A church hall was rented to use as classroom because the school was not big enough. The school opened a new building for woodwork training. 

  • 1928

    A library was opened funded by the fundraising work of the Mother's Club.

  • 1948

    A school canteen was built from funds raised by the Mother's club. 

  • 1950

    The school became a training school in 1950. This meant that student teachers worked at the school as part of their teacher training. The school bell from Scarsdale Road School in Camberwell, England was given to the school. The bell was placed in the school grounds. 

  • 1967

    An event was held to recognise that the school had been open for 100 years. 

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Camberwell Primary School.

  • 2022

    Camberwell Primary School is still in operation.

Find more interesting facts about this school

The Public Records Office (PROV) is the archive of Victoria's State and local government. They look after some of our oldest school records, and we can use these records to help us understand what school life used to be like.

Now it is your turn to do some detective work. Take a look to see what info they have on this school.

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