Parkdale Celebrating 100 Years 1924-2024

Parkdale Celebrating 100 Years 1924-2024

This year marks 100 years for Parkdale Primary.  Parkdale primary school was opened on February 2nd, 1924. To recognise and celebrate the opening of PPS the students will receive a celebratory biscuit after the assembly. 

The beginning and a snippet of PPS in the 1920’s.

Parkdale State School opened on February 2, 1924.  Councillor C.G. Imes wrote to the Director at the time and asked when the school would be opening.  The Director replied that “Ulysses Browne would open the school on January 29, 1924”. The buildings weren’t quite ready by that date, it was a few days later that students were on the actual site.  The school in 1924 was a wooden building and pavilion. These were overcrowded so that the school leased The Progress Hall which was in Parkers Road.

There was a staff shortage in 1925. Miss Mary Cantwell taught grades 1-4, with a total of 75 students and Mr. Dudfield taught grades 5-8 (numbers unknown).  There were two temporary teachers to assist.

In 1926 with the school situated on five acres, there was a lot of room for more buildings.  By this stage the school had another shelter pavilion. On the 3rd and 4th May the school closed for fumigation against Diphtheria.

In 1927, four years later, it was decided to replace the wooden structures with a brick building. This was officially opened on October 6th.  During this year, horses got into the grounds and destroyed most of the trees and garden plots.

A caretaker was appointed in 1928.  Mrs. Ruth White lived in the cottage next to the school.