Principal  Message

Celebrating 150 Years of Learning at Warrandyte Primary School and the Grand Opening of the Ceramic Wellbeing garden - Wednesday 29, 5pm-7pm

Next Wednesday, we celebrate an incredible milestone – 150 years of continuous learning within the historic stone walls of our original schoolhouse. We are going back in time to explore the decades and learn more about how education and life has changed or remained the same over the years.  The significance of our schoolhouse cannot be underestimated in the history of the state's education system. When I talk to politicians about the need for capital funding to support our school, I point out that this school is one of the oldest in the state and it has served its community well. It deserves to be treated with the highest respect and celebrated as part of the history of education in Victoria.  I did some research on the school's history as I was interested into finding out more about its significance.

Back in 1875, our school was known only as State School No. 12 opened its doors. This locally quarried sandstone building was designed under the supervision of Victorian Government architect Henry R. Bastow and built by William Bolger, who charged £543 9s for his services. Built by master stonemasons with stone quarried nearby, the building is specifically recognised for its use of local sandstone and the high level of stone craft in its construction. In fact, it's part of the broader township heritage setting where “Warrandyte stone” is a defining local material.

It was built to serve the children of miners and families at the Anderson’s Creek diggings and took on the informal name Anderson’s Creek School. In 1863 it was officially recorded as Anderson’s Creek Common School No. 12 (or simply School No. 12) when the Board of Education listed it alphabetically. With the area’s renaming to “Warrandyte” and the growth of the township, the school adopted the name Warrandyte State School around 1908. In later decades it became Warrandyte Primary School, the title under which it continues to serve its community today. 

Our school’s story is deeply intertwined with the story of Warrandyte itself. The building was built the same year the township’s bridge was built, linking us to a fast-growing community. This community is as strong as ever and I can say that rarely a week goes by where I don't talk to someone in the community that went to WPS or knows someone who did. 

It was interesting to also learn that in 1976, the founding of the Warrandyte Historical Society was inspired by the centenary of the stone schoolhouse itself, highlighting how our building has become a local landmark and repository of collective memory.

As we mark this 150-year celebration, we acknowledge the legacy we carry forward, respect the craftsmanship of past generations and the enduring value placed on education in our community. It is also a symbol of the ongoing commitment of our students, staff and families. This milestone gives us an opportunity not only to reflect on where we’ve come from, but to imagine where we might be in another 150 years. 

However, we could not celebrate this milestone without first acknowledging and recognising the history of this area and the indigenous Aboriginals that lived on the land our school was built on. Long before our stone school building at Warrandyte Primary School first opened its doors, this land was part of the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. The banks of the Yarra River (Birrarung – “river of mists”) and the surrounding bush hills around Warrandyte were rich with cultural, spiritual and practical meaning to the Wurundjeri. 

The area around Pound Bend, Fourth Hill and along Anderson’s Creek holds layers of Indigenous history including, meeting places, seasonal camps, sources of bush-foods and stone-tools, and sacred sites.  When our school building began in 1875, European settlement was well-established, but the deeper layer of the land’s story should not be forgotten. Recognising this gives our 150-year celebration an added dimension as we honour not just 150 years of formal schooling in this place, but also the thousands of years of learning, connection and belonging by the Wurundjeri people. We hope our celebration is in the context of the full story of this land.

Our current students have become part of the story as we open the time capsule that was placed inside the stone walls of the Schoolhouse 50 years ago. We will celebrate as a community on Wednesday evening look at artifacts, photos, and take a 'Walking Tour' of our beautiful school. We truly are lucky to be living, working and learning in such a beautiful part of the world. We hope you can join us as we explore our history, open our time capsule and celebrate the opening of our ceramic wellbeing garden. 

I would like to thank the staff at WPS who have all been working hard behind the scenes an in the classroom to help prepare for this event. In particular, Dave Pelosi, Claire Lambert and Eliza Campanaro have gone above and beyond. Thank you in advance also to FOWPS, who will be putting on a BBQ and Ice-Cream for the evening. 

We look forward to celebrating with you all next Wednesday – the day and evening promise to honour our heritage, our present and our bright future together. Our evening kicks off at 5pm. There will be food, dessert, music, students' expo, a journey through time walk, the opening of the Ceramic Wellbeing Garden and finishing off with some singing at a whole school with Kevin O'Mara We hope to see you there!

Pupil Free Day

A reminder that Monday November 17 is a Pupil Free Day. The OHSC service will be open to take bookings.

Prep Gardening 

Thank you to Kelly Maguire and her lovely mum for helping plant out seedlings and pot our Indigenous seed bombs. The children had fun, each of them having a go of watering and planting in our garden beds. We look forward to watching them grow. 

Prep 2026 Information Night

We had to postpone our Prep information session this week due to staff illness. We are ready to go for this Monday at 7pm. The session gives specific information about life as a student at WPS and an opportunity to answer any questions new families may have. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

Nieta