150 years: Rutherglen Primary School

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

Key information

Address:
44 Murray Street, Rutherglen, 3685
Opened:
1 January 1861
School type:
Primary
School number:
522
Other names:
Rutherglen School, Rutherglen Common School, Rutherglen State School

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The history of Rutherglen Primary School

  • 1861

    Rutherglen opened as a common school in 1861. The first head teacher was K.A. Buckley and classes were held in the local hall. 

  • 1870s

    The school building was completed in 1872 and opened in 1873.

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

  • 1909

    A new school building opened in 1909. It was ‘one of the most up-to-date schools in the Southern Hemisphere'. 

  • 1920

    Black and white photograph of the Rutherglen school building with children playing in the yard in front of the school. Rutherglen Primary School in 1920 when it was known as Rutherglen State School. Source: State Library of Victoria

  • 1961

    The school was a higher elementary school until. This meant that secondary classes for older students were added, like secondary schools today. Secondary classes moved to the new Rutherglen High School (No. 8300). 
     

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Rutherglen Primary School in 1970.

  • 2022

    Rutherglen 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.

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

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