150 years: Mernda Primary School

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

Key information

Address:
25 Everton Drive, Mernda , 3754
Opened:
1 April 1853
School type:
Primary
School number:
488
Other names:
Plenty School, Plenty Common School, Morang Common School, Morang State School, Mernda State School

The history of Mernda Primary School

  • 1853

    The school opened as a national school in 1853. It was called Plenty School when it opened.

    The first teacher was Thomas Noble and his wife also taught at the school. 46 students were enrolled.

  • 1862

    The school became a common school in 1862. 

  • 1864

    The name of the school changed to Morang Common School. 

  • 1870s

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

    A teacher's residence was added in 1877. 

  • 1900

    The name of the school changed again to Mernda State School. 

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Mernda Primary School in 1970.

  • 1976

    The school building on Plenty Road was too small for the over 100 students enrolled. It did not have town water and only had three toilets.

    A new 4 classroom building opened on Johnson's Road in 1976.

  • 1979

    Photograph of the bluestone school building at Mernda Primary School Mernda Primary School building in 1979. Source: John T. Collins and the State Library of Victoria
  • 2011

    The school moved sites again in 2011 to Everton Drive. The brand new school could accommodate up to 450 students. 

  • 2022

    Mernda 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 information they have on this school.

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