150 years: Yarram Primary School

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

Key information

Address:
2-14 Wesley Street, Yarram, 3971
Opened:
1 December 1861
School type:
Primary
School number:
693
Other names:
Yarram School, Yarram National School, Yarram Common School, Yarram State School

The history of Yarram Primary School

  • 1861

    Yarram opened as a national school in 1861.

    The first head teacher was Catherine Krohn.

    Classes were held in a leased building.

  • 1870s

    The school became a state school at some stage between 1873 and 1877.

    The lease for the school building was not renewed and a new school was built in 1877.

  • 1909

    Black and white photograph of the Yarram school building. The building is brick and there is a picket fence and flagpole in front of the building. There is a man in a suit walking through the school gate. Yarram Primary School building in 1909 when it was Yarram State School. Source: State Library of Victoria
  • 1918

    The school became a higher elementary school in 1918. This meant that secondary classes for older students were added, like secondary schools today.

  • 1951

    The school has a fire in 1951 that damaged the school building.

  • 1956

    Secondary classes moved to Yarram High School (No. 8490).

  • 1966

    A new school building replaced the old wooden buildings in 1966.

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Yarram Primary School in 1970.

  • 2022

    Yarram 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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