Historic Warrandyte Primary School stone building

Our History

A rich past, a school for the future.

Warrandyte's first school opened in 1856, with the school community later moving to its enduring Forbes Street home. Warrandyte Primary School has educated generations of local children for more than 160 years.

Our Story

Where gold rush history meets modern learning.

Warrandyte's first school opened in 1856 during the gold-rush era. The school later developed on its Forbes Street site and became known as Warrandyte Primary School in 1908. It is bordered by the Warrandyte State Park, which contains the old mines and protects the indigenous flora and fauna. The ambience of the school is enhanced by its proximity to the Yarra River and encompassing parks.

Century-old photos, the original school bell and the original stone building can be seen throughout our school. Our school's history and the discovery of gold continue to be taught to our students as they develop their connection with our community and their understandings of the concept of change.

1902

Original school bell

Centenary

Stone building

1851

Gold discovery

Historical photograph of students and teacher in front of the stone school building

School No. 12

Students outside the original stone building, late 19th century

From the Archives

Faces of our past.

Century-old photographs preserved throughout the school and by the Warrandyte Historical Society connect today's students to the children who learned here generations before them.

The Stone Building
Students and teacher outside the original school building, c. late 1800s.

Historical group photograph of students and teacher in front of the stone school building — The Stone Building
Students and teacher outside the original school building, c. late 1800s.

School Group Portrait
Eighteen students with their teacher, photographed in the Warrandyte hills.

Historical group photograph of seated boys and standing girls with a teacher — School Group Portrait
Eighteen students with their teacher, photographed in the Warrandyte hills.

Our Setting

A bushland campus shaped by gold, river and Country.

Our school's identity is inseparable from the landscape and history that surrounds it — from the goldfields of 1851 to the Wurundjeri custodianship that long preceded European settlement.

First Victorian Gold Discovery

On 30 June 1851, Louis John Michel and his party found payable gold in the quartz rocks of Anderson's Creek — officially recognised as Victoria's first gold discovery and the spark that ignited the colony's gold rush.

Warrandyte State Park

The school is bordered by the Warrandyte State Park, which contains the old mines and protects the indigenous flora and fauna of the area, creating a unique bushland setting for learning.

The Yarra River

The ambience of the school is enhanced by its proximity to the Yarra River. The river's flood plain shaped the town's history — most dramatically in the 1934 floods that inundated Warrandyte.

Wurundjeri Country

Warrandyte sits on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, who have cared for this Country for tens of thousands of years. We honour them as Traditional Custodians.

Timeline

From the diggings to today.

Over 160 years of milestones — a story of resilience, growth and community.

1800 – 1950

1856Warrandyte's first school commenced at the diggings.
1863Lessons conducted in Anderson's Creek Court House while the new school was built.
1863Board of Education declared the school 12th on the alphabetical list as Anderson's Creek Common School No 12.
1873Newly created Education Department introduced the state school system and Anderson's Creek State School No 12 came into being, with James Eccleston Walker as Head Teacher.
1875New school opened on the Forbes Street site.
1902School bell erected.
1908Name of school changed to Warrandyte Primary.
1925New brick and stucco extension erected.
1934Terrific flooding inundated Warrandyte and the annual school picnic was deferred.
1939Warrandyte decimated by fires. The school survived but the shelter shed, many fences and school committee records were destroyed.
1941Pine plantation established.

1951 – present

1953Nine new classrooms constructed.
1963Learner swimming pool opened.
1970Canteen opened.
1972School library opened in April.
1975Commemorative plaque to the Centenary of the Stone Building.
1976Art and Crafts centre constructed.
1983Multi-purpose hall and Music room opened.
1991Removal of Pine Plantation to establish the football oval.
2005Opening of the Sustainable Garden on the pool site.
2007Extension to Middle Year classrooms.
2011Opening of the New School Building (BER).
2012150 Year Celebrations.
2016New Oval.
2017Refurbishment of Main School Building.

Community Partner

Warrandyte Historical Society & Museum

The Warrandyte Historical Society was formed in 1976, following the centenary celebrations for the school's original stone building. So much archive material and goodwill transpired that the society was formed to preserve it all — and it has been caring for Warrandyte's story ever since.

The museum is housed in the former Warrandyte Post Office (1876–1972), which was restored between 1985 and 1988 after being severely damaged by fire. It devotes a room to the gold discovery and its influence on the town, and the Aboriginal Room tells the history of the Wurundjeri people and their relationship with the area.

Opening Hours

Sat & Sun, 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Address

111 Yarra Street, Warrandyte

Visit the Museum Website

Warrandyte Historical Society Museum in the former Post Office building

The Old Post Office

Home of the Warrandyte Museum since 1988

Discover more about our school.

Our School Photo Gallery Book a School Tour