150 years: Heatherton Primary School

Learn about the history of Heatherton Primary School, one of Victoria’s oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
Old Dandenong Road, Heatherton, 3202
Opened:
30 June 1870
Closed:
31 December 1999
School type:
Primary
School number:
938
Other names:
Kingston Common School, Heatherton State School

The history of Heatherton Primary School

  • 1867

    In 1867 a committee was formed to build a school in Kingston.

    The committee was formed by wealthy grazier, Thomas Attenborough. Attenborough sat on the committee alongside H Way, J Stooke, J Aitken and P Robertson.

    The committee sought a grant from the Board of Education to establish the school.

    Inspector Sasse recommended the grant be approved. The committee submitted an architect designed, brick building.

    The Board stipulated a wooden school building.

  • 1870s

    In 1870 this school opened as Kingston Common School.

    In June 1870, head teacher Rebecca Waugh enrolled 22 children. The students came from the Springvale, Clayton, Braeside, Dingley, Clarinda, and Heatherton areas.

    In 1871 the school building was completed following another grant of 30 pounds.

    During the 1870s the school changed its name to Heatherton State School.

     

  • 1900

    Around 1900 enrolment reached 100 and the school expanded.

    A new building consisting of 2 classrooms, a storeroom and an office was built.

    Enrolment declined to 70 when more schools were built nearby.

  • 1958

    In 1958 a timber classroom was built, adding 2 more classrooms.

  • 1970

    The name of the school changed to Heatherton Primary School in 1970.

  • 1990s

    Following continuous declining enrolments, the School Council decided to close the school.

    The school closed in 1999. 

    Head teachers included:

    •  Rebecca Waugh (1870 to 72)
    •  W Tuccle (1874 to 76)
    •  WJ Stephens (1873 to 74)
    •  P Hotton (1877 to 1903)
    •  F Allison (1903 to 08)
    •  A Saunders (1908 to 13)
    •  A Matthews (1925 to 34)
    •  T O'Neill (1935 to 38)
    •  T Kennedy (1939 to 43)
    •  P Dwyer (1944 to 50)
    •  F O'Donnell (1950 to 53)
    •  J Murphy (1954 to 61)

Find more interesting facts about this school

The Public Record Office Victoria (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's your turn to do some detective work. PROV currently only have paper records for this school. Take a look to see what info they have on this school.

Updated