HISTORY OF GREY STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL No. 3584  1912-1987
(Dorothy Steer)

  In 1907, a public meeting was held to push for the establishment of a school on the western side of the Traralgon Creek.  As there were no funds available for building, the Baptist Church Hall was rented, and in April 1908 approximately 60 children, in Grades 1 and 2, started school in the church hall.  (A school was already established in Campbell Street but it was not always convenient for children from the other side of the creek to attend there.)

The church hall was known as State School 3584 but because of poor sanitation, dampness, etc., a suitable piece of land was sought for a new school building, and in late 1909, the land bounded by Moore and Grey Streets was purchased, being one half of the present area.

After many delays, the new building was officially opened on 28th June, 1912, in the presence of 1,000 residents.  Mr. Richard H. Griffiths was Head Teacher and the school kept the No 3584 previously given to the adjunct school.

In 1913 it became apparent that the area of land was not adequate, so an adjoining piece was purchased.  Mr. Griffiths began lobbying for a Higher Elementary School, as by 1914, there were  26 pupils in Grade 8 and 24 in Grade 7.  At last his efforts were rewarded, and on 5th March 1915, the school was declared a Higher Elementary School, with a building from Campbell Street being transferred to the Grey Street site.   Trees were planted around the boundary, and a plaque was attached to each one, in memory of former students who died during the War.  Most of those trees have now gone, and the whereabouts of the plaques are unknown.  However, the school still has the Honour Roll in memory of the fallen.

Twelve months after the opening of the school, there were many improvements needing to be made and the District Inspector in 1918, wrote:   "This fine and costly building should not be allowed to fall into disrepair."  In 1919 the builder was still unpaid.

The Spanish Influenza epidemic had its effect on the population of Traralgon in the 1920's and the Higher Elementary School was turned into a hospital for a short while, with pupils still being taught in the adjoining buildings.  There was little playing area for the pupils, so the school was permitted the use of Victoria Park.

By this time the H.E.S. was developing rapidly so two extensions were made to the original building and another building from the Campbell Street School was brought across and placed at the back.  This was used as an art room.

In the early '20s, Mr. Thomas Spowart was appointed Head Teacher, and he had the task of establishing a school pine plantation on a gravelly site on the Traralgon Creek Road.  The Department supplied the trees but no "manpower" or funds.  The School Committee provided all of the fencing.  Out of 700 pines planted, three quarters died; more were planted only to be destroyed in the 1938 bushfires.

In 1923 a Fund was established to provide a school library.   Public donations were sought and 70 books purchased.  Pupils paid one penny a month for use of the library.  The Fund became a regular item on the Committee books, and it was not until 1956 that a Library was established.

Most of the children got to school by riding a horse or a bike, so few were eligible for a Government travelling grant.

Annual Concerts were held and the money raised was donated to the Children's Ward at the Gippsland Base Hospital.

In 1924 the School Committee approached the Shire Council to provide a swimming baths in the Traralgon Creek, at the end of Franklin Street.  This was constructed in an area of 90ft x 45 ft and 3ft deep.  A tennis court was also installed, in the school grounds, limited to use of students only.  Electricity was connected at about this time to the H.E.S. building.

Mr. Gordon Pitcher became Head Teacher in 1925.  He was a very progressive man whose first innovation was the formation of a Mothers' League, later to be the Mothers' Club, which helped with funds as the Department never had enough money for all that was needed.  Mr. Pitcher was appointed District Inspector in 1930 and Mr. Douglas Lindsay took his place at the school.  Mr. Lindsay had a difficult term, having to contend with the Depression, the 1934 floods, overcrowding, the polio epidemic and bushfires. There were still problems with sanitation, drainage, etc., and after 18 years the school was still unpainted.

By 1930, there were enough students for a Leaving Class, but lack of space made this impossible.  The Government tried to introduce Secondary School Fees in 1932, but this was dropped after a public outcry.  In the 1930's, Diphtheria, Measles, and Polio caused the H.E.S. to close and new enrolments were discouraged.   By 1936, approximately 500 pupils were accommodated in 6 rooms originally built for 300, with 60 pupils in the infant classes.

Sir John Harris, Minister for Public Instruction, visited the school in February 1939 and it was agreed that 4 additional rooms for the Primary School and an art room for the H.E.S. would be constructed.

Mr. James Manfield became Head Teacher in 1939 and, due to a huge intake of infants, these children used the Methodist Hall until the extensions were completed.

During Word War 2 trenches were dug opposite the school in case there should be air raids, and the children were drilled for such an event.

Because of the rapidly growing intake of students, it was evident by 1944, that the H.E.S. could not remain on the site with the Primary School.  A R.A.A.F prefabricated building was moved in and it is still there today.

  In 1946 the school had 554 Primary pupils, 200 in Grades 1 and 2, with inadequate bike and shelter sheds.  The Stockdale Road Primary School opened in 1952, and by this time there were 650 students attending Grey Street.

In 1951, the Higher Elementary School was given High School status and was relocated, in 1954,  at its present site.

A former pupil, Mr. John Wright left £200 in his Will to the school, and this was allocated to the Library established in 1956.  Mr. Frank Cocks was Principal in 1955, followed by Mr. Fleming, and in late 1960, Mr. Eric Allison who brought the school to sporting excellence.  Students were now required to wear school uniforms, and in 1962, the school won the A.N.A. Garden Award.

Pupils now numbered approximately 800 but when the Liddiard Road school opened the Grey Street numbers decreased to about 500 and remained so for that decade.

The Principal in 1964 was Mr. McCallum, in 1969 Mr. Sid. Falla, and in 1972, Mr. Ron Rooke.  At that time the school was in a bad state of disrepair; the Department decided to renovate but there were many delays.

In 1976, the school established an exchange program with a South Australian school, Surrey Downs, and each year Grade 6 pupils travelled to the other school.  Miss Ivy Pump retired in 1977 after teaching at Grey Street for 26 years.

The 80's saw the establishment of an "adventure playground", a library extension, and the establishment of a quadrangle garden.   the flagpole was moved to a different site, and pine trees were removed from the Church Street boundary to make way for more parking space.

Former pupils are this year (1987) enjoying reunions as the school is in its 75th year.  It is interesting to note that all Rolls are to hand from the first school in Campbell Street to the present day.  Some of these were found in the roof during the 1976 renovations.

At the conclusion of her talk, Mrs. Cray was thanked on behalf of the Society by our Vice-President, Don Macreadie.