General News
11 October, 2024
Carisbrook community to celebrate 150 years of the local primary school on Sunday
For 150 years, the Carisbrook Primary School has provided countless memories, lessons and life events to local students across many generations.
To celebrate this achievement, the school will welcome former staff, students and the community for its 150th anniversary celebration this Sunday, October 13 from 11 am to 2 pm.
An official welcome will commence at 11.30 am before a whole school commemorative photo scheduled for noon.
Visitors will also enjoy historic memorabilia from yesteryear and can purchase a personalised paver stone to be placed around the school grounds.
Carisbrook Primary School principal Chrissy Drummond said she is privileged to be at such a historic school.
“It’s an amazing thing to be part of — I’m proud that the school is turning 150 years old and has lasted that long,” she said.
“We are hoping to get lots of former students, teachers and principals to come back and have a catch-up with each other and tell some stories.
“It’s amazing the amount of parents and grandparents that have kids at the school now and even many of our staff came here as students.
“The students are excited that we are doing a mural towards the end of the year to mark 150 years as well.”
Groundwork for the school began with fierce local debate in the early 1870s about the future of the Carisbrook Common School, funded by the local community, and the potential to build a new state school with the government responsible for funding.
Once a state school was deemed feasible, the Department of Public Instruction purchased a two-acre site on Camp Street in 1873 to build the new school building.
The school building and the head teacher’s residence which still stand today were constructed by local bricks and came at a cost of £1397, which approximately equates to $235,000 today.
Carisbrook State School No.1030 officially opened on Wednesday, July 1, 1874, with Carisbrook Common School closing the day before.
Henry Beilby was appointed head teacher, leading a team of four other staff members from Carisbrook Common School to educate 279 pupil enrolments, with an average attendance of 156.
Despite a population of around 400, approximately 600 people attended the school’s centenary celebrations in 1974, with over 200 returning pupils from as far back as 1888.
The Maryborough Advertiser reported a commemorative plaque, centenary tree and new playground was officially unveiled at the event.
According to The Advertiser, president of the centenary committee Keith Smith “made special reference” to credit the school for allowing former students to “rise to positions of high significance in their particular fields” — something Ms Drummond said the school continues to prioritise.
“The identity for us at Carisbrook Primary School and reading all of the pieces of history is that we have always provided a really good education for our students,” she said.
“Not just academically but socially and emotionally as well and teaching kids to be well-rounded citizens.
“It’s a fantastic school community — the school is a real central point of our community and I’m excited about the celebrations.”