Historical information

This school was one of the earliest in St Kilda. The 1842 plan of Crown Lands that were sold to establish what became the village of St Kilda reserved an area on Acland Street for the 'Church of England and School'. Christ Church was constructed on the site in 1854-57.
A school had started before then but was closed for about a year after the Head Teacher abandoned his students in search of gold. A sign on the door read 'This school is closed in consequence of the master having gone to the diggings'. The school was re-opened in 1853, with only two pupils on the first day. The new Headmaster was John Hadfield, a teacher who had recently arrived in Melbourne from Wiltshire, England. He stayed on as Headmaster for the next 22 years.
Free secular compulsory education was introduced in Victoria from 1873. Until a permanent State school could be built in the area, the Government used the St Kilda Town Hall for this purpose, and the students from Christ Church school were transferred there. The Brighton Road State School was opened in January 1875, with John Hadfield was its first Headmaster.
The Government then leased the old Christ Church schoolroom and established a second school there. The Headmaster was James A Ure.
The school continued until the 1940s. The building was burnt down in 1977.

Significance

The building burnt down in 1977.

Physical description

Framed and mounted original photograph, black and white.

Inscriptions & markings

First state school room in Victoria.