Melbourne’s lost schools: Closed high schools, mergers, tech schools
Hundreds of beloved schools have closed or merged over the years, but fond memories remain. Here’s a look back on our forgotten schools.
Victoria
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Hundreds of beloved schools across Melbourne have shut their doors over the years, merging with others or closing for good, with sites turned into mass housing estates.
Former students still hold fond memories of their time at school including lunch orders from tuck shops to classroom activities including writing on slates and playing games like hopscotch.
We take a look back on some of Melbourne’s forgotten schools:
EAST
ASHWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL
Ashwood State School on High St Rd operated between 1953 to 1993, before students moved to a new school, Parkhill Primary, which still operates today.
The school underwent renovations in 1956 and became a training school attached to Burwood Teacher’s College.
The site was redeveloped in conjunction with closure of Jordanville Technical School.
The Ashwood Primary School Facebook group has more than 800 members, where former students post old photos and memories of the college.
GLEN WAVERLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school, which originally opened in 1880, was at the corner of Springvale and Waverley roads.
The school was a large single room attracting thousands of enrolments during the 1960s and closed in 1993.
The original building has been retained under the National Trust heritage classification and is used as a community centre.
The school merged with Glen Waverley Heights Primary School, but kept its original name. It’s now at 774 High St Rd, Glen Waverley.
CHADSTONE HIGH SCHOOL
In 1987, a radical plan to amalgamate dozens of Victoria’s primary secondary schools sparked protests.
School included Murrumbeena and Chadstone High schools, which were set to join with Oakleigh Tech.
Students from Chadstone High downed pens and took to the streets in protest at the planned closure of their school.
About 200 of the school’s 315 students marched through the streets to the Chadstone shopping centre with placards in hand. They then boycotted classes for the rest of the day.
After opening in 1962, the school closed its doors for the final time in 1991.
OAKLEIGH HIGH SCHOOL
Oakleigh High School opened in 1955 and closed its doors in 1992 to make way for a housing estate.
Hundreds of former students have shared their memories on its reunion website dedicated to the school’s past.
SOUTH EAST
NOBLE PARK TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Noble Park Technical School opened in 1957. The school’s buildings were constructed by A.V. Jennings in light timber construction style. In 1962, Noble Park High School opened nearby. Its enrolments peaked during the 1970s, with hundreds moving into the area.
In the early 1990s, the school’s name was changed to Noble Park Secondary College and the Noble Park Technical School shut its doors.
DOVETON HIGH SCHOOL
Doveton High School opened in 1960 and moved into new buildings on Power Rd in 1962.
Many people have shared fond memories of Facebook of school dances and going to the local milk bar after school.
The school’s name changed to Joseph Banks Secondary College in 1990, but closed in 1992 due to a lack of enrolments. The site is now the Botanical Grove estate.
INNER SOUTH/INNER EAST
BRIGHTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL
The school, which opened in 1922 on 45 Cochrane St, was described at its opening ceremony as “one of the finest schools”, according to a website dedicated to documenting its history.
The girls’ technical school was opened in 1924 in the Cora Lynn building. By 1926, the school surpassed 1000 enrolments. The school shut its doors in 1991, but its strong legacy continues to live on within the community.
HIGHETT PRIMARY SCHOOL
Now a housing estate, Highett Primary School opened its doors almost 70 years ago at 19 Graham Rd. Despite strong enrolments during the 70s and 80s, the school shuts its doors in 1993, sparking community outrage.
MALVERN GIRLS
Malvern Girls School opened in 1946 and quickly became one of the most prestigious girls’ schools in the area. The school flourished in enrolments during the 1960s and its buildings underwent several upgrades over the years. The school closed at the end of 1993 and is now Malvern Primary School, with the original building still retained.
NORTH
DONVALE HIGH SCHOOL.
The school’s motto was “loyal and true” and provided education to Donvale’s growing population and surrounding eastern suburbs. After opening in 1966, enrolments surged and continued to grow throughout the late 80s. It was closed in 1992 by the state government.
Hundreds of former students still share photos and memories of the school on it’s Facebook page.
DONCASTER HEIGHTS PRIMARY SCHOOL
The school opened on Wetherby Rd in 1968 and enrolments soon reached 695.
It succumbed to the fate of many others in the area and was replaced by the Jising Court housing estate in early 1990s after declining enrolments.
PRESTON TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Preston Technical School, which later became Preston Secondary College opened in 1937. The buildings on Cramer and Jessie streets became Preston Technical School and the St Georges Rd building became the TAFE. In 1987, a fire destroyed five specialist classrooms. The college closed its doors in the late 1990s and is now part of NMIT.
OUTER EAST
FERNTREE GULLY HIGH SCHOOL
The school made headlines in 1985 by allowing children aged 15 and over to smoke.
According to a News Corp report in 1985, all students at the school were previously permitted to smoke, but the school council then moved to allow it only for Years 10, 11 and 12.
The school which shut its doors in 2006, after operating for more than 40 years.
RINGWOOD TECHNICAL SCHOOL
The school closed in 2005 after 45 years in the community.
Many people have shared memories of the school, with former student Sammi Kent saying the best part about attending Ringwood Tech was the friends she had met and caught up with at reunions.
KNOX TECHNICAL SCHOOL
The school was completed in 1969 after experiencing several setbacks during construction. During the 1970s, the school became known in the outer east as the leading institution to learn a trade. In 1984, a fire damaged parts of the school but fortunately didn’t damage the main building. The school was demolished in 1992 to make way for the Kings College Drive housing estate.
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Originally published as Melbourne’s lost schools: Closed high schools, mergers, tech schools
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