150 years: Quarry Hill Primary School

The school, originally known as Sandhurst East, opened as a state school in 1873. It replaced Charcoal Gully Common School (No. 137).

Charcoal Gully was opened by the Church of England in 1857. It closed the day before Sandhurst East opened.

The first head teacher was Walter Watkins and Mrs Naomi Watkins was the assistant. The school building was brick.

The Charcoal Gully building was used as an infant room.

Two more rooms were added.

By 1884 accommodation was again inadequate and in May 1885 another room was built.

Head teacher Watkins left the school.

The average number of students reached 467 and the school was crowded.

Sandhurst East became an adjunct of Gravel Hill State School (No. 1566).

Only Classes 1 and 2 remained at Sandhurst East during this time, all the other classes were held at Gravel Hill.

That meant that students from Sandhurst East had to travel to Gravel Hill for classes. 

In September 1907, Sandhurst East again became a separate school.

The head teacher at the time was J.A. Roach.

The school was renamed Quarry Hill State School.

The current school site was purchased in Peel Street.

A brick school was built and it could accommodate 572 pupils.

The building has nine classrooms built around a central quadrangle.

The school opened while Roach was still the head teacher.

The old school was used as a domestic arts school for girls and later as a church.

Enrolment at the school was 270.

The name of the school changed to Quarry Hill Primary School.

A new multi-purpose art building opened.

The school was marking the 100^th anniversary of the Peel Street building.

Quarry Hill Primary School is still in operation.

The Peel Street building is still at the heart of the school.