SCHOOL NO: 3983 MILDURA WEST
1886
An agreement was made between the Chaffey Brothers and the Government of the Colony regarding the development of the Sunraysia District. One clause stated that an Agricultural College would be built in Sunraysia with one of every fifteen irrigated blocks being set aside for the maintenance and endowment of that college. These blocks were to be known as College Blocks. The Mildura West School was built on one of those College Blocks.
1922
Mildura West School was officially opened by the Earl of Stradbroke on July 1st 1922. The first pupil registered was Victor Mansell. 165 pupils attended in this year. Grades ranged from preparatory to grade four. Miss Aherne was Senior Mistress of the school and Mr O’Brien the Headmaster. Mr O’Brien was primarily Headmaster of Central School, but as the West School was an adjunct of the Central School Mr O’Brien supervised it as well. Mr O’Brien, who was not a well man, went berserk, killed his wife with an axe and then tried to burn the Central School down. He was later committed to Royal Park.
Early school houses were “Spartans” and “Athenians”.
1923
The first Committee Meeting was held on the 3rd of September 1923. The members were: Messrs G C Wishart (Chairman), WJ Bowring (Correspondent), A Perry (Treasurer, A Johnson, C Rickards, W. Cooper and E Hutchinson. The school bank account was opened. Electricity was connected to the school.
1924
Water pipes were laid and garden established. Wattle trees were planted. A second hand piano was purchased from Suttons Ltd for £105 ($210). A shelter shed erected by GC Wishart at a cost of £160 ($320). Mr Hall was appointed Headmaster of the West School in place of Mr O’Brien.
1925
Grades were extended to include Grade 5
1926
The Shelter Shed was floored
1927
Education was extended to Grade 6 standard (Grades 7 and 8 were never taught at West)
1928
An assembly bell was purchased and ten seats were erected in the grounds. The garden path was bitumined by the Town Council, approximate cost £6 ($12).
1929
£5 ($10) was spent levelling and rolling a basket ball court for the girls.
1931
The school allowance was cut 50% of the Department as an economy measure. The committee authorised the Head Teacher, Mr. Osborne, to purchase food or books at his discretion, for children of distressed families.
1934
Telephone connected to the school.
1938
A siren to replace the bell was installed.
1943
A wireless receiver was purchased. Cyclone gates removed from Cyprus Avenue entrance and replaced with corrugated iron framed with oregon.
1944
A rural school from Galah North was moved into the Mildura West School. Children occupied it the day it arrived. Mr HM Pascall was the head Teacher.
1945
Mildura West Committee joined the State Schools Committee Association of Victoria. Land purchased from Mrs. Barnes for school oval, house on property used temporarily as a school residence.
1946
Departmental record cards put into use. Concrete paths laid at the school by Mr Meek. Fathers cleared the 2½ acres of land purchased from Mrs Barnes adjoining the school in 1945. This now the football oval. On 14th August 1946 the Minister of Education visited the school and the following points were brought to his notice:
A new Infant Room was necessary Sewerage of the school Fencing of the new school ground Need for a Headmaster’s residence The appointment of a caretaker.
1947
The following equipment was provided by the Mothers Club:
4 swings 2 sandpits 1 slide 1 monkey climb
1950
A house was purchased for £2,950 ($5,900) for the Head Teacher Mr Wilkinson in Desroy Avenue Mildura. Two Bristol Units erected.
1954
Queen’s visit. School children were marched to Henderson Park to take part in the welcome to her
1956
Two new light timber construction units erected.
1957
The school was connected to the Mildura City Sewerage System.
1960
Additional light timber construction units and office added.
1964/5
Additional light timber construction unit and store room added. Library built. Rural School from Kerrinee North shifted to another position in school ground to allow cor construction of room and storeroom on end of Infant Block.
1970
New building commenced January, 1970 completed for occupation on 19th May 1970. Electricity connected. Comprises 5 classrooms, staffroom, toilet block and storeroom. Two rooms next to office completely renovated and a complete new roof in July 1970. Old rural school rooms in ground sold for removal and removed in August 1970. Concrete footbath constructed on Ninth Street frontage in May 1970.
1996
Official opening of the new Children's Learning Centre. A learning hub of the school housinig the library and teacher resources room.
2016
March 1st saw work start on a new synthetic basketball court and running track. Completion of this being Friday 11th March, when a small opening ceremony was held.
October 3rd saw the opening of our refurbished Grade 6 building, with the internal walls having been taken out to open the area up for an open plan learning space.
2023
End of 2022 saw the removal of the bricks and pavers out the front of the school on Ninth Street. Grass was planted making the front of the school not only eye catching and refreshing, but gave the students a soft, picnic feel area to eat their lunch, sit outside to read and play.
