A History Of Williamstown Primary School
Williamstown Primary School stands on part of the market reserve and was purchased by the Education Department from the Williamstown Council in 1874. It was first opened in 1873 at the Mechanics Institute, with increasing numbers of pupils necessitating the leasing of additional rooms for classrooms in the Temperance Hall in 1875 and the Methodist Church in 1876. In 1877 tenders were called for the erection of a new school building, which was opened the following year. In 1905 additional land was acquired to enlarge the school, and as a result the original allotment of about two acres was almost doubled in size.
The first building constructed for Williamstown Primary School was built at the end of a substantial construction phase, following the creation of the Education Department in 1872. The architect for the department at the time was Henry Bastow who designed a number of Gothic inspired school buildings. The 1878 school building at Williamstown is constructed of cyclopean-faced basalt, quarried from the site, with rendered window and door surrounds and string courses, cream brick chimneys and a slate roof. The building consists of an asymmetrically composed central two storey section with a tower, flanked by two single storey wings. It incorporates steep slate gable and hip roofs, roof gablets, a prominent circular tower and pointed arch openings with label mouldings. A steeply pitched pyramidal roof, parapeted with gable ends to two sides, remains at the south end of the main facade. A similar one, removed in 1925, stood at the northern end in a symmetrical manner. Two single storey wings project west from the ends of the main facade.
An Infant School building was erected on the expanded site in 1905 to designs by Public Works Department architect, George Watson. The Federation Queen Anne style was adopted with the intention of imparting a domestic character for the young pupils. It is of note as the first Infant School to respond to new ideas in planning and elevation in relation to infant school design, and represents a major shift in educational thinking compared with the 19th century, particularly in relation to lighting, ventilation and planning. It formed the basis of infant school architecture in Victoria for the ensuing nine years, during which time twenty-six schools were built. The red brick building has cream brick contrasting bands, steep pitched slate gable roofs, timber strapped stucco gable ends, two ornate ventilating roof turrets and red brick chimneys with render cappings.
Extensive remodelling of the 1878 building was undertaken in 1915 with changes made internally and externally. At this time, significant alterations were made to many of the arched windows of the ground floor, which were enlarged and squared. The Infant School was used as a girls’ secondary school from the 1920s until 1962, after which it was again used as part of the primary school.
The Library and Art room and the Music room and hall are separate from the main buildings. These were completed in 2005. There are also have a number of relocatable classrooms and a prefabricated Bristol Aeroplane Company building, once common in the State.
The school continues to maintain and develop the buildings and grounds in keeping with both their current use and historic value to the community.
[Compiled using details from Heritage Victoria]
Click here for a selection of school Heritage Photos
Williamstown Primary School, photographed from Cecil Street in 1878
To read further about our school's history, you can download
Williamstown Primary School No. 1183, 1873-1998 - A Brief History to celebrate 125 years [PDF]
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