By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
WARBURTON Primary School is celebrating 140 years of education this year and is seeking input from past students, teachers and families to help with the celebrations.
The primary school was opened on 2 March 1875 and the school’s history, present and future will be celebrated at its annual Springfest event, to be held this year on Saturday 31 October.
After a difficult beginning in a challenging landscape, the school experienced various locations and incarnations until it settled on a very steep hill site on Dammans Road in 1907.
A new campus was opened on the present site on Horners Road in 1953, with the two campuses offering primary and secondary education.
This was the case until the Upper Yarra High School (now secondary college) opened in Yarra Junction on 25 March 1962.
The Dammans Road schoolhouse was destroyed by fire in February 1959, after which the school remained permanently on Horners Road.
The school’s slogan, ‘Small School – Big Heart’, reflects its purpose of providing an environment that allows its students to thrive, in their learning and through their relationships with each other.
School principal Damian Marley is encouraging former students and staff to join the current school community for a big 140th celebration at Springfest.
“We are lucky to have such a beautiful school is such beautiful surroundings,” he said.
“There’s a big history to celebrate, but we also want to celebrate the great teaching and learning that is happening at our school, and the bright future ahead of us.”
The celebratory event will be held from 10am to 4pm at the schoolhouse on Horners Road in Warburton.
Any past students, staff and friends of the school that want to be part of the celebrations and stallholders for market stalls held on the day, please contact the school on 5966 2010.
