150 years: Sutton Grange Primary School

Learn about the history of Sutton Grange Primary School, one of Victoria’s oldest public schools.

Key information

Address:
Elphinstone, 3448
Opened:
2 January 1865
Closed:
1 January 1989
School type:
Primary
School number:
798
Other names:
Sutton Grange School, Sutton Grange Common School, Sutton Grange State School

The history of Sutton Grange Primary School

  • 1864

    Robert Jamison told the Board of Education that local residents wanted to establish a common school at Sutton Grange.

  • 1865

    The original weatherboard school building was opened in 1865 by the head teacher John K Wait. It had 20 students.

  • 1870

    A stone building, designed by architect Thomas Muntz, was constructed.

    The original school building was converted into a teacher's house.

  • 1944

    Bushfires destroyed the house and part of the timber plantation. The granite school building survived and was mostly undamaged.

  • 1945

    The Faraday house was transferred to Sutton Grange.

  • 1960

    At the end of 1960 a farewell was given to AE Cox, who had taught at the school for 42 years.

  • 1970

    The name of the school changed to Sutton Grange Primary School in 1970. 

    Street view of Sutton Grange Primary School between 1970 and 1999. The flagpole at Sutton Grange Primary School between 1970 and 1999.

     

  • 1989

    The school closed in 1989.

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. PROV currently only have paper records for this school. Take a look to see what info they have on this school.

Updated