From the Archives
Establishment of Kelvin Grove Road School
The first move towards the establishment of a State School at Kelvin Grove was made on 4th May 1874, when a public meeting to discuss the necessity of a school was held at the home of Mr J. L. Bales. The meeting decided:
“That a public school is an absolute necessity in this district; (this) is fully proved by the facts, that 41 persons nearly all heads of families, attended the meeting and the sum of 53.10.0 pounds was subscribed on the spot."
These 41 persons represented an aggregate of 56 children.
“But this number cannot be considered as more than one third of the children varying in ages from 5 to 12 years, who reside within a radius of one mile of the proposed site, many of whom attend no school at all".
The Board of Education approved the establishment of the school, and in October 1874, tenders were called for the erection of a school sufficiently large to accommodate 150 children. That of Stephen Foreman and William Salmon, for 631.10.0 pounds, was accepted.
The school was opened in May 1875 with Mr Thomas Christie as its first Head Teacher. On the 20th of August 1875, Mr Christie advised the Department that the average attendance per day was 160. He was at this stage assisted by three female pupil teachers.
The next four years saw vast improvements to the school. The grounds were partially cleared and fenced; play sheds were erected; an underground tank was built. In August 1879, the Committee requested that a gymnasium be erected. Through enquiry, they had discovered that the cost would approximately amount to 31 pounds. They were prepared to pay the usual local contribution (1/3 of the total cost). In February 1885, Francis Walker, the Head Teacher, wrote in connection with the gymnasium:
“The boys of this school have gathered among themselves the sum of 1.14.4 pounds, for the purpose of levelling the play shed, placing battens round the posts, and putting a layer of tan on the surface".
He considered that these improvements were necessary for the safety of the boys. The gymnasium was one of the school's proudest possessions.