History of Edithvale Primary School

In 1908 a group of Aspendale residents petitioned the Minister of Education for the erection of a State School in Aspendale. After a lengthy process, the first classes were held in the new rooms of State School No 3790, Aspendale, in 1913. The school was not officially opened until 1924, with Sir Alexander Peacock, Minister for Education officiating. In 1914 the school had a population of ninety.

Pre-fire school circa 1940

By 1920 the enrolment was 223,however the school was only built for one hundred and fifty. Children were sitting three to a desk. By 1921 classes were being held in the local Methodist Church hall. Also in 1921 the area became known as Edithvale and the school name was changed to Edithvale. However, overcrowding continued into the 1940s with articles appearing in The Sun and The Herald noting

In 1940 a fire razed the school and in 1942 a Gala Day was held to mark the re-opening of the school in a new brick building. During the war years children and staff were active supporting the War Relief Fund. In 1947 the enrolment was four hundred and twenty-five with an average of fifty-three children per room, prompting calls for more accommodation again! In 1948 the air raid trenches were filled.

In 1952 The Education department requested a maypole be purchased by the school to train a dance team who actually performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip at the MCG during the Royal Tour of 1954.

The "Post War Baby Boom" continued to strain accommodation with an enrolment in 1954 of five hundred and sixty children, staffed by a Head Teacher and twelve assistants. The 1960s saw continued development of buildings in the school and a staffroom provided. In 1969 enrolments reached seven hundred and fifty six.

During the last twenty years a number of innovative curriculum initiatives and grounds improvement programs have taken place and continue to do so. 1988 saw the school's seventy-fifth year with a special "Bi-Centenary Opening Day" on 26 February to mark the start of the school's celebrations for the Bicentenary and the school's Diamond Jubilee.

School today

From 1999 to 2002 the school underwent a major capitol works project, having approximately two million dollars spent on upgrading the administration block, refurbishment and addition of new classrooms.

Since 1913 the school has evolved with a good reputation for providing the best facilities and extensive opportunities to enable all children to reach their full potential. This has only been possible because of a long history of teacher and parents working together to ensure that Edithvale Primary School is a school of which to be proud.