Clifton Hill Primary School
History
At the end of 1873, the minister of education at the time accepted a tender for the erection of a state school on Gold Street. The school was designed by William Henry Ellerker and was originally going to be built with a capacity of 500 students in mind, however, Ellerker's design for a capacity of 1,000 students was used instead.
It opened in 1874 under the name Gold Street State School. By August of the very same year, the school had a student enrolment of 1,289 but only had an average attendance of 660. This low attendance was believed to be due to the school's recent opening and that the school's average attendance would increase over time. In 1876, the school had an enrolment of 1,091 students with an average attendance of 661. One year later, in 1877, the student enrolment was 1,220 with an average attendance of 660 and by 1878 the student enrolment was 1,400 with an average attendance 823. The average attendance exceeded 960 by the end of 1883.
On 26 February 1877, a six-year-old student (James West) was beaten by his classmates just outside the school; he died from his injuries a few weeks later. A police investigation ensued, with an autopsy of the body being conducted. The conduct of the headmaster's response surrounding the matter was also examined. By June 1877, the perpetrator was not yet identified, despite there being multiple witnesses. The investigation was described as "bungled" with the police taking limited notice of the incident and the school dismissing the matter. It was feared that the case would be forgotten, and it was suggested that it would be a great misfortune if the Education Department did not take further action to identify the culprit.
In 1878, a student climbed the school building and was unable to come down; he was ultimately saved but received the cane for endangering his life.
The opening of a post office in Clifton Hill was celebrated with a ball and supper at the school in 1883.
Demographics
In 2021, the school had a student enrolment of 735 with 63 teachers (50.2 full-time equivalent) and 13 non-teaching staff (7.3 full-time equivalent). Female enrolments consisted of 380 students and Male enrolments consisted of 355 students; Indigenous enrolments accounted for a total of 1% and 26% of students had a language background other than English.
In 2022, the school had a student enrolment of 693 with 59 teachers (47 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (8.4 full-time equivalent). Female enrolments consisted of 362 students and Male enrolments consisted of 331 students; Indigenous enrolments accounted for a total of 1% and 27% of students had a language background other than English.
In 2023, the school had a student enrolment of 681 with 56 teachers (47 full-time equivalent) and 14 non-teaching staff (7.6 full-time equivalent). Female enrolments consisted of 361 students and Male enrolments consisted of 320 students; Indigenous enrolments accounted for a total of 1% and 25% of students had a language background other than English.
Notable alumni
- Roy Allen, Australian rules football player
- Eric Cock, Australian rules football player
- Lidia Thorpe, politician
See also
References
- ^ "Clifton Hill Primary School". Australian Schools Directory. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "ACARA Data Access Program – School Profile 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Clifton Primary School (H1621)". Heritage Victoria. Archived from the original on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Gold-Street State School". The Age. 14 February 1874. p. 8. Retrieved 10 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Compulsory Clause of the Education Act - Gold-Street State School". The Age. 15 August 1874. p. 5. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Gold-Street State School". The Mercury and Weekly Courier. 30 November 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Monetary and Commercial Intelligence". The Argus. 5 December 1883. p. 7. Retrieved 19 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Gold-Street School Case". The Age. 29 May 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Inquest on a Schoolboy". The Herald. 4 June 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Death of a School Boy from Violence". The Argus. 5 June 1877. p. 7. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Town". The Leader. 9 June 1877. p. 20. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Town News". The Weekly Times. 9 June 1877. p. 14. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Death of the Lad James West". The Herald. 6 June 1877. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "Notes and Comments. - 6/12/78". The Mercury and Weekly Courier. 7 December 1878. p. 3. Retrieved 12 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Clifton Hill Post Office". The Mercury and Weekly Courier. 10 November 1883. p. 2. Retrieved 19 November 2024 – via Trove.
- ^ "ACARA Data Access Program - School Profile 2008 – 2023". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 17 June 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
- ^ Latimore, Jack (23 April 2022). "Lidia Thorpe, the Greens senator who annoys the establishment". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 August 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
Further reading
- Gold Street State School 1874-1974. Clifton Hill Primary School. 1974. — via State Library of Victoria
- Vincent, Alison (2001). A school for one thousand scholars: a history of school number 1360, Clifton Hill Primary School, Gold Street, Clifton Hill 1874-2000. Clifton Hill Primary School. ISBN 0957980302. — via State Library of Victoria