Burwood Primary School (No. 461)

Burwood opened as a denominational school called the Wesleyan Day School. It was located at Damper Creek, Nunawading.

The first head teacher was Barraclough, but the first paid head teacher was Richard Hurry.

The school received extra money for Richard Hurry's wife, Ann, to help with teaching.

The school became Ballyshanassy Common School (No. 461).

A new school building was built.

The head teacher was Walter Brookes. He would stay on as head teacher for 23 years.

Mr Brookes' assistants included his wife and later his daughters, Isabella and Agnes.

During the 1870s the local population grew.

In 1877 Nunawading State School (No. 464) closed. Miss Demsey, one of Nunawading's teachers, transferred to Ballyshanassy. It also received leftover property from the Nunawading's closure.

The school's name changed to Burwood State School (No. 461).

As the local population continued to grow, the school added a brick extension to house a new infant school for 40 children.

The main school was extended again.

The school received more improvements:

• school yard asphalted
• electric lights installed
• school bank established
• piano and drums purchased.

The Mothers' Club presented the school with a bell. This was still at the school in the 1970s.

A large schoolroom, a staffroom and an office for the head teacher were remodelled, and built. A new classroom for grades 7 and 8 was also built.

A new infant school was added.

The school bought land next door to build a new oval.

A new wooden classroom was built.

Three more wooden rooms were added. The library was also opened.

Attendance was up to 580 students.

Because it had a lot of students, Burwood became a ‘special class' school in the 1960s.

By 1963, for the first time since the 1890s, the head master no longer lived at the school.

A new arts and crafts room was built.

The arts and crafts room was used in a 1967 TV film for the in-service training of teachers.

Diploma students from the Burwood Teachers College also used the school.

The number of students at Burwood fell as more schools opened around the local area.

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

The school closed in 1990.