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150 years: Dromana Primary School

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

Key information

Address:
Mcculloch Street, Dromana, 3936
Opened:
1 June 1861
School type:
Primary
School number:
184
Other names:
Dromana School, Dromana Common School, Dromana State School

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The history of Dromana Primary School

  • 1860

    Dromana opened in 1860.

    The first head teacher was Robert Quinan and his wife, Emma, was work mistress. The school replaced the private school that Robert Quinan had opened in 1860.

    There were 28 students enrolled when the school opened.

    The schoolhouse was made of sticks and branches held together with clay and mud. This is called wattle and daub. It had a roof made of shingles.

  • 1862

    The school became a common school in 1862.

  • 1873

    The school became a state school in 1873.

  • 1874

    The number of students enrolled at the school had grown to 56.

  • 1876

    The schoolhouse had become dangerous. Classes were held in the Mechanics Institute building while a new schoolhouse was built.

  • 1877

    A new schoolhouse made of green granite stone was opened. There was also a 4-room house for the teacher to live in. The number of students going to school was 72.

  • 1898

    The school closed because of bushfires.

  • 1905

    In 1905 and 1906, the school grounds were made bigger. The teacher's house was also extended.

  • 1946

    Wrought iron gates with granite pillars were installed by past and current students.

  • 1950s

    A fire destroyed the original building. Some of the remaining blocks were used to build walls in the schoolgrounds. Two new classrooms were built.

    More rooms were added in 1955 and again 1958.

  • 1960s

    More rooms were also added in 1964, 1967 and 1969.

  • 1970

    The school was renamed Dromana Primary School in 1970.

  • 2022

    Dromana 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 info they have on this school.

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