Our Rich History
We are tucked into the leafy, established streets of Newtown, one of Geelong’s oldest and most character-filled suburbs. Our great little school has been educating local children for well over 140 years, 149 to be exact, with 2027 being our 150th Anniversary!
Long before roundabouts and school buses, before even Federation, this small patch of Aberdeen Street was already alive with the sound of children learning — and it still is today.
We officially opened our doors on 1 October 1877. The original schoolhouse was built by Victoria’s Public Works Department in the Victorian Gothic style typical of state schools built during that era: solid, dignified brickwork designed to signal the importance the young colony placed on public education. That heritage is now formally recognised, with the school building listed for its local architectural and historical significance.
The school’s opening was a genuine community occasion. Contemporary newspaper reports from the time describe a formal opening ceremony attended by the Minister of Education himself, reflecting just how significant a new state school was for a growing suburb like Newtown in the 1870s. Geelong at the time was a thriving regional centre, and Newtown as a suburb — with its grand Victorian-era churches and elegant streetscapes — was fast becoming one of its most desirable residential pockets. A local primary school was a natural, and necessary, next step for the community.
Today, our great school still occupies its original Aberdeen Street site, now grown to include modern classrooms and facilities alongside reminders of its long history. An archival photo of the original school building, still held by the school, is a treasured link back to that opening day in 1877 — a visual reminder of just how far the school, and Newtown itself, has come.
What hasn’t changed over time however is the sense of purpose that first brought the school into its belief that every child deserves a strong local school where they can learn, feel safe, and be known. That belief now sits at the heart of our school’s guiding value of Respect — for self, for others, for learning, and for the environment — carrying the spirit of 1877 forward into the classrooms of today.
Visit Us
There’s something special about walking through a school gate that’s welcomed Newtown families for over 140 years.
We’d love to show you around and share more of our history in person — call (03) 5229 9730 to arrange a tour.
