150 years: Sale Primary School

Sale opened as a national school in 1854. The first head teacher was Mrs Marianne Carpenter. There were 26 students enrolled (19 girls and 7 boys).

The school became a common school in 1862. The school building was described as “an iron room – very hot or very cold – badly ventilated and unhygienic, as it acts injuriously on the children’s health”.

A large brick classroom was added in 1864 and an extra wooden classroom was added by 1867. Another brick classroom was added in 1869. The school was damaged by a hurricane the same year. A ball was held to raise money to repair the damage.

The school became a state school at some stage in 1873. There were 483 students enrolled in 1873 and two more brick classrooms were added.

A new brick school building on a new site on Macalister Street in 1883. A procession from the old school to the new school was part of the opening. There was also a fireworks display.

John H. Refshauge was head teacher in 1907. He was also headmaster at the new Agricultural High School that opened in the Mechanics Institute building. A Stoyd room, used for woodworking, opened the same year. A room was also converted to be a cookery centre.

Sale Primary School in 1920.

The school building from Newry State School (No. 1145) moved to the school in 1952. Renovations were undertaken in the same year.

The school was renamed Sale Primary School in 1970. The head teacher at the time was Gordon D. Murdoch.

A reunion was held in 1983 and students repeated the procession from the old school to the current school like they did 100 years ago.

The school building’s spire at the top of the bell tower was restored in 2003. The portico verandas at the front of the building were also restored.

Sale Primary School is still in operation.