One of Victoria’s oldest primary schools has reached a major milestone – celebrating 150 years of supporting local students to get the best education.
Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today visited Porepunkah Primary school to mark the achievement through a ceremony with students and staff.
The school is on Dhudhuroa Country on the banks of the Ovens River, near the foot of Mount Buffalo, and is projected to have an enrolment of 110 students this year.
The school has a long history – opening as a common school on 23 January 1873 with just 62 students enrolled, before becoming a state school in 1875.
In 1924, the school acquired more than 40 acres of Crown Land for a School Endowment Pine Plantation. The first trees were then planted in 1925 and milled in 1955, with the school receiving £750 for the timber and another classroom was built that year.
Since then, the school has undergone a major redevelopment to ensure students have the best spaces to learn and thrive. In 2010/2011, the original classroom and the 1963 development were retained, while four new classrooms, toilets and a large multi-purpose/ library space were added.
In 2020, the school’s Student Excellence Program was launched and selected students to take part in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP). School staff also implemented high ability programs such as the Writer’s Club, High Tech Club and the Book Club, engaging and extending student ability.
Since 2014, the Andrews Labor Government has invested $12.8 billion in building new schools and more than 1,850 school upgrades, creating around 17,400 jobs in construction and associated industries.
The Government is ahead of schedule in opening 100 new schools by 2026, with 75 new schools opening between 2019 and 2024 – ensuring every student can access a great local school and a quality education no matter where they live.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins
“For 150 years, Porepunkah Primary School has been supporting students in the Ovens Valley to get the best education and thrive both at school and in life.”
“This is such a special milestone – and I congratulate the school on this achievement. It’s a great way to reflect on the past, while we look to the future and continue to invest to give our students every opportunity they need to succeed.”
Reviewed 23 January 2023