JavaScript is required

Berwick Primary School (No. 40)

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

Key information

Address:
37 Fairholme Boulevard, Berwick 3806
Opened:
23 November 1857
School type:
Primary
School number:
40
Other names:
Berwick Common School, Berwick State School
Email:
berwick.ps@education.vic.gov.au
Phone:
03 9707 1026

How to find enrolment and other school records

If the school is open: contact the school directly to access your 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 Berwick Primary School

  • 1857

    Berwick opened in 1857. The first head teacher was named O'Malley.

  • 1861

    A new and bigger school was built on a new site to replace the first schoolhouse. The head teacher at this time was named Latham.

  • 1862

    The school became a common school in 1862.

  • 1869

    The school moved again to another site in 1869.

  • 1873

    The school became a state school in 1873.

  • 1875

    There were 155 students enrolled at the school in 1875.

  • 1887

    H. George Rankin became the head teacher in 1887.

  • 1911

    Henry McCann became the head teacher in 1911.

    A tree was planted at the Peel Street site to commemorate the coronation of King George V. The tree still remains and is identified with a plaque underneath.

  • 1918

    Alfred W. Barker became the head teacher in 1918.

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Berwick Primary School.

  • 2001

    The school was planning to relocate to a new site and A Back to Berwick event was held to mark the occassion.

  • 2003

    The new school opened on Fairholme Boulevard in Berwick.

  • 2022

    Berwick Primary School is still in operation. The original Peel Street building is used as a cafe and National Trust gift shop.

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.

Updated