150 years: Maffra Primary School

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

Key information

Address:
22-28 Church Street, Maffra, 3860
Opened:
1 July 1866
School type:
Primary
School number:
861
Other names:
Maffra Common School, Maffra State School

Search for more school profiles

The history of Maffra Primary School

  • 1866

    Maffra opened as a common school in 1866. The first head teacher was W. McCubbin and 28 students were enrolled. Classes were held in the Presbyterian Church. 
     

  • 1870s

    A school building opened in 1871.

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

    A gallery was added to the building in 1874.

  • 1880

    61 boys and 54 girls were enrolled in 1880. 

  • 1892

    The roof of the school was lifted off during a storm. Classes were held in the Guild Hall while the school was repaired. 

  • 1908

    Classes were held in the Guild Hall again in 1908 while the school was renovated. 

  • 1941

    Seven classrooms were added to the school in 1941. There were 235 students enrolled at the time. 

  • 1955

    Maffra High School opened in 1955 and older students transferred to the new school. 

  • 1967

    The school commemorated its 100th anniversary in 1967 with a week of festivities. Centenary gates were opened by the Director-General of Education, F.H. Brooks. A ‘back to school' reunion was also held. 800 people attended a social evening in the Memorial Hall. 
     

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Maffra Primary School in 1970.

  • 2010

    Major redevelopment of the school was completed. New permanent buildings were constructed with the historical elements of the main building remaining.

  • 2017

    Maffra Primary School marked it’s 150th anniversary. There was a party for current students and mosiac tiles for were created for the current students.

    An event for the general public was also held.

    Mrs Alison Clarke, Executive Director of Outer Gippsland, officially recognised the occasion.

  • 2022

    Maffra Primary School is still in operation. 

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. Take a look to see what information they have on this school.

Find all the records PROV holds for this school(opens in a new window)

Updated

Back to top