Historical information

1855 Stephen Charman donated land to the Methodist Church so that a School could be established to educate the children of the early settler market gardeners and farmers in the Cheltenham area . Education was valued by the general community and as well as schools they established mechanics Institutes and Libraries in Moorabbin Shire. Cheltenham State School No. 84 was among the first schools in Melbourne.
Stephen Charman, 1821-1906 a market gardener, donated land for the first Methodist Chapel, Cemetery and School in Charman Rd Cheltenham 1855. The enrolment was 36 pupils with Mr Frederick Meeres as Teacher.
1863 the school is called Beaumaris Common School No 84 with 70 pupils and Walter Meeres as Teacher. 1869 another 2 acres in Charman Road were granted by the Education Board and brick building built . 1872 State School 84 Beaumaris was increasing enrollments and 1878 a new brick school was built to accommodate 174 pupils and the name changed to Cheltenham State School No.84
1894 Mentone State School No.2950 amalgamated with Cheltenham SS No.84. 1910 the buildings were in disrepair, overcrowding was increasing and renovations were made 1912 with further additions in 1925 and 1937. Post WW11 extra prefabricated Classrooms were added as enrollment increased to 1038 in 1955..
Cheltenham East State School 4754 was opened as housing development spread over the City of Moorabbin . (J.Larson Sandringham HS)
Probably due to the Scottish heritage of many early settlers the Fife & Drum Band was established at the West Beaumaris (Cheltenham) State School . The Fife is similar to the piccolo, and usually made of wood, consisting of a tube with 6 finger holes and an embouchure hole that produces sound when blown across.The fife was used in folk music traditions to accompany dancing by all social classes. Also in the Military where drums accompanied the fife and originally these 'boy soldier ' bands were used to signal manouevres in the field for the infantry. Later Fife & Drum bands were used for marching bands in schools and community groups,

Significance

1855 Stephen Charman donated land to the Methodist Church so that a School could be established to educate the children of the early settler market gardeners and farmers in the Cheltenham area . Education was valued by the general community and as well as schools they established mechanics Institutes and Libraries in Moorabbin Shire. Cheltenham State School No. 84 was among the first schools in Melbourne.

Physical description

Black & White photograph of pupils at West Beaumaris (Cheltenham) State School No.84 in the boy's Fife and Drum Band c 1908

Inscriptions & markings

Back Handwritten Mrs Whelan / Beaumaris