We love history at Skipton Primary: it is an important part of our curriculum and we are making plans to do some historical work with the local historical society. It is also important for our students to have a sense of the history of our school and all the foresight and dedication of previous generations that has gone into making it the great school it is today, and to continue making it a great school for the future.
Skipton Primary has the number 582. As state schools grew the government decided it needed a number system. So at a certain year it listed all the schools alphabetically and gave them each a number. This is why Alberton school got number 1 and Yea 699. From then on, as new schools are built they receive an identifying number.
A school conducted by Mrs William Pasons, 'a pretty hard woman', is believed to have preceeded No 582. This opened on 1st of January 1858 under Presbyterian control, with Ebenezer Blair as the first Head Teacher and had 22 children on the roll. Through lack of finance it closed on 15th March 1864.
The Rev W.T. Whan then worked successfully to gain interest and funds for the new school by the river, a bluestone building which officially opened on 9th October 1864. This served until replaced in 1888 and became the Masonic Hall. Its first Head Teacher was Alexander Hart and had 32 pupils.
The present red brick building, up on the hill, was occupied in June 1888 and Harry Hardy was appointed Head Teacher for 13 years. A third room was added in 1915. Enrolment reached 100 in the 1930s under Head Teacher Harold Peart who was a Gallipoli veteran. A notable student was (Sir) Henry Bolte, Victoria's Premier for June 1955. He won a scholarship in 1921 and went on to attend Ballarat College.
Dux of the school in 1954, Pamela Wise returned to the school as its first Infant Mistress in 1968. Additional classrooms were added in 1957 and 1969, reflecting the steady growth in population in the area. In 2010 the Mackinnon Hall was built as part of the federal Labor Government's Building the Education Revolution program. In 2017 there are 103 enrolments from the town and surrounding district.
A school conducted by Mrs William Pasons, 'a pretty hard woman', is believed to have preceeded No 582. This opened on 1st of January 1858 under Presbyterian control, with Ebenezer Blair as the first Head Teacher and had 22 children on the roll. Through lack of finance it closed on 15th March 1864.
The Rev W.T. Whan then worked successfully to gain interest and funds for the new school by the river, a bluestone building which officially opened on 9th October 1864. This served until replaced in 1888 and became the Masonic Hall. Its first Head Teacher was Alexander Hart and had 32 pupils.
The present red brick building, up on the hill, was occupied in June 1888 and Harry Hardy was appointed Head Teacher for 13 years. A third room was added in 1915. Enrolment reached 100 in the 1930s under Head Teacher Harold Peart who was a Gallipoli veteran. A notable student was (Sir) Henry Bolte, Victoria's Premier for June 1955. He won a scholarship in 1921 and went on to attend Ballarat College.
Dux of the school in 1954, Pamela Wise returned to the school as its first Infant Mistress in 1968. Additional classrooms were added in 1957 and 1969, reflecting the steady growth in population in the area. In 2010 the Mackinnon Hall was built as part of the federal Labor Government's Building the Education Revolution program. In 2017 there are 103 enrolments from the town and surrounding district.
