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Rocklyn State School (No. 785)

Learn about the history of Rocklyn State School, one of Victoria's oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
Rocklyn 3364
Opened:
1 April 1863
Closed:
27 January 1965
School type:
Primary
School number:
785
Other names:
Rocky Lead Common School, Rocky Lead State School

How to find enrolment and other school records

If the school is open: contact the school directly to access records.

If the school has closed: contact the Archives and Records branch via email archives.records@education.vic.gov.au or 1800 359 140 and they will assist you.

The history of Rocklyn State School

  • 1863

    The school opened as a common school in 1863. It was called Rocky Lead when it opened.

    The first head teacher was John Truscott.

    The number of students enrolled was 30.

    Classes were held in a timber schoolhouse with a shingle roof and wooden floor.

  • 1864

    The head teacher left the school in 1864 and the school had to close.

  • 1865

    The school was moved to a more central location and reopened.

    There were 48 students enrolled at the school when it reopened.

    The head teacher was James Price.

  • 1870

    The school closed again because there were not enough students. James Price, the head teacher, continued to teach privately at the school.

  • 1872

    The school reopened as a common school under head teacher Charles Phillips in 1872. Charles Phillips stayed as the head teacher for 40 years.

  • 1873

    The school became a state school in 1873 when the average number of students was 68.

    The schoolhouse and teacher's house were renovated.

  • 1874

    By 1874 there were 109 students enrolled and the school grounds were expanded.

  • 1888

    The number of students enrolled had increased to 135 and a new and larger timber schoolhouse was built.

  • 1903

    The old schoolhouse was sold and moved elsewhere.

  • 1921

    The school was badly damaged by a cyclone in 1921 and needed to be repaired.

  • 1927

    A new teacher's house was built.

  • 1933

    The school changed its name to Rocklyn State School in 1933.

  • 1965

    Rocklyn State School closed in 1965.

Find more information 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.

PROV currently only have paper records for this school.

Updated