Old Harvey Primary School 1901

Since 1901, Harvey has operated a school at this site.

The first school opened on 12th April 1899 in the Harvey Agricultural Hall with an enrolment of 25 under head teacher Edith Mitchell.

The School expanded over the years to form a complex of buildings of various designs and materials. In 1901, a timber school room and Teachers’ Quarters were built at this location (the weatherboard structure on the right of this building).

In 1907, when the school enrolment had reached 49, the classroom was enlarged by 7 feet, two years later a brick classroom was built adjoining the original room.

By 1914, a pavilion classroom was erected to help accommodate 113 children and in 1922 another was transported from Donnybrook. Both were fitted with canvas shutters instead of windows.

In 1925, a Parents and Citizens Association was formed and more classrooms were built by 1927, by which time 220 children were in attendance, and the head teacher, Mr. Hill, had three teachers on his staff.

By 1948, 322 students were attending Harvey School.

The Harvey Primary School still operates at this site, though the original buildings are no longer in use. They are to the east of the current school site at the corner of Gibbs Street and Wright Street.