Brunswick State School Site 1896

Among the farms and bushland of early Brunswick, a small schoolhouse was built for the district’s children.

The first school in Brunswick was built by early settlers in 1864 at “Frogmore”, a farming estate owned by David Eedle. Known as the Old School House, it served the small farming community until it was destroyed by fire.

In 1892, local resident John Crampton, of what is now known as Viewbank, donated a portion of his land to the Education Department for a new school site. It took several years for residents to agree on the location, as families south of the river preferred a site closer to them. After extensive discussion and several unsuitable alternatives—primarily due to winter flooding—the Crampton site was selected.

The Brunswick State School officially opened on 16 May 1896. By 1905, enrolments had grown to 42 students; by 1929, to 98; and by 1950, to 195 students. Continued growth led to the relocation of the Brunswick State School in 1966 to its current site on Vincent Street.

One of the school buildings, once located here, was moved to the Brunswick Recreation Ground, where it was used as a Brunswick Show Office and President’s Room, and then to White Rocks Farm, where it remains today.

The trees surrounding this site were planted by students during the years the school operated here—a living reminder of Brunswick’s early education history.