Historical information

Mount Pleasant Primary School 1435 was formerly known as Clayton's Hill, and evolved from a tent school, commenced in 1855 by William McIntosh. When changed from a Wesyleyan day school to a Common School it was given the number 424, received State funding and was conducted by William H. Nicholls. On 01 January 1873 the school became a non-vested school under control of the Education Department until 31 August 1873. The State then leased the school until 31 July 1874, with the current brick school, Mount Pleasant No.1436, opening on 01 August 1874. The Head Teacher of the new school was William H. Nicholls, remained at the school until 1887. His assistants were Thomas Gray, Jane Shaw, Jane Tratham, Catherine J. Berriman, John Blight, Herbert Berchaivaise and Annie Hicks, all who had worked at Mount Pleasant No. 424. William Nicholls and his assistant Gray established after school classes to enable students to gain Exhibitions and Scholarships to matriculate for the University of Melbourne, and courses enabling entry to teaching, pharmacy and civil service. Before the establishment of State Secondary and Technical Educaiton over 100 pupils from Mount Pleasant Primary School has matiriculated and entered the various professions. (Visions and Realisations, Vol. 2, pg 653 and 767)

William Henry Williams became the first classifier of teachers for the Victorian Education Department. He died aged 51 while Head Teacher at Yarra Park Primary School on 01 April 1899.

Some former students of this school include: J.G. Eagleston (County Court Judge); H.E. Starke (Judge of the High Court of Australia ); Bernard O'Dowd (parliamentary draughtsman and poet); Albert Coates (Surgeon and Medical Officer in Burmese Prisoner of War Camps).

Gold was discovered at Caylton's Hill in 1853.

Physical description

Black and white photograph of a primary school in the Ballarat suburb of Mount Pleasant. The brick school is sat on bluestone foundations.