School History

The History of Red Cliffs Primary School:

In a true sense, the history of the Red Cliffs Primary School is a history of the Red Cliffs settlement. Certainly few schools can claim a more colourful beginning. Many of the itinerant workers who arrived in the Red Cliffs area to assist in the clearing of the land and building of channels etc had their families with them and so the need for a school arose.

Mr James Claringbull, a returned serviceman who was awaiting the allocation of a block, wrote to the Education Department on February 20th 1921 and offered his services as a head teacher. At the same time Mr B. Sharp of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, offered the lease of the Recreation Hall for school purposes. Both offers were accepted and on July 4th 1921, Red Cliffs Primary School was opened with an enrolment of 31 children.

By 1923 enrolments had reached 145. School was still being conducted in the Recreation Hall with three teachers employed and working under extreme difficulties.

At a cost of $14,150 a brick school consisting of six classrooms, cloak room, store room, staff room and office and was occupied in July 1924. The official opening took place on November 24th 1924, the Headmaster at the time being Mr T.B.Ward.

By 1927 the enrolment had reached 234. The first Mothers' Club was formed in 1929 and was responsible for the purchase of many of the school's resources.

In 1936 two additional rooms were added to cope with the student population increase, a wireless and library were two major improvements at this time. The school became Red Cliffs Central School with grades Prep to Year 8.

In 1962 the students in Years 7 and 8 transferred to the newly built Red Cliffs High School.

A change of name to Red Cliffs Primary School came in the late 1970's.

In 1992 Stewart Primary School merged with Red Cliffs Primary adding 54 extra students to the enrolment figure.

The school now boasts very attractive grounds and facilities, which are well cared for and very functional. Pupil numbers are presently around 165.

This photo of Red Cliffs State School was taken around March/April 1922 not 1923 as labelled.

This is the earliest class photo we have and it shows Mr Tom Bennett’s class in the ‘Woolshed’ School.

The teacher was Tom Bennett, a returned soldier who had taught at Scotch College before the war.

The sign looks like grades V and Vl although the ages would suggest some were as young as 8. Mr Bennett was an assistant teacher from March 1922 until October 1922. Mr James Claringbull had resumed as HT and Phyllis Claringbull had the infant class. Maybe the photo was taken of Mr Bennett’s class when he arrived in March.

Sincere thanks to Bob Walton and Helen Petschel for providing the photo.

Inspector Rowell visits Red Cliffs State School. The first page of his report reads:

"Visited for inspection, 31 present.

Grounds and Buildings.

This school was opened just a week ago, in part of the Recreation Hall of the settlement, and is therefore subject to the disturbing influences of the rest of the building. The part partitioned off for school purposes is 35' x 20' ample for present requirements, but new settlers are daily arriving, and present conditions may rapidly change.

All arrangements for school work are of a temporary character but for the present are quite satisfactory. Children play on part of the railway reserve across the road. When the Railway Department require the ground, there will be no play ground whatever. Temporary O.O.'s have been erected, and are sanitary and clean.

Desk accommodation is ample. The blackboards are very small, but the teacher has been notified that rolls of slate cloth are being sent supply the want.

Rolls and Teachers.

Time books are neatly kept. All then..."