History

Yarra Road Primary School began in a single classroom with four students in 1925. Prior to this the local children travelled by foot or horse to Wonga Park Primary School. In 1925 a Miss Alice G. Broad was appointed as the first teacher at the school which was set amongst the gum trees and native flora of its current site.

In 1948, the school residence was erected and was first occupied by the Head Teacher, Mr G. Collis, his wife and five children. The school remained as a one teacher school until 1958 when a second classroom was opened and the first assistant teacher was appointed. Three more classrooms and a teachers’ room were added in 1969 and the netball court was build in 1972.

Over the years the students at Yarra Road Primary School have achieved many successes, both academically and on the sporting field, an area in which the school has a strong history.

In 1989 a retired Preston line W2 class tram was relocated to the front of the school. This tram was used to shelter from weather and a play area for students. It quickly became a feature of the school which was affectionately known as “ the school with the tram” throughout the district. Unfortunately, age and the difficulty in obtaining replacement panels caught up with the “Old W2” requiring its removal in 2003.

Whilst the School’s enrolments gradually increased through the 1970s and 1980s, Yarra Road continued to have a country school atmosphere well into the next decade. With the growth of the area throughout the 1990s and this decade the Department of Education realised that the school ‘s facilities needed upgrading and a two stage building program was begun. The first stage, which consisted of the new block of seven classrooms and student toilets, was completed in 2001 and the second stage that added the administration  block, gymnasium, library and canteen was finished two years later.

In the early hours of Thursday 5th August 2004, a school fire destroyed four of the older classrooms and their adjoining resource areas. Outstanding work from the Wonga Park CFA prevented the fire from spreading to the new classroom blocks and whilst the devastation caused was overwhelming, a cheer broke out as one of the fireman emerged from the smoky ruins with five newly born chickens alive and well. With great support from our neighbouring schools and businesses, the school set out to rebuild the lost classrooms and replace the resources that had built up over many years. It was through this time that the people of Yarra Road really showed their community spirit as they all worked feverishly to get the school operational again.

The School, which now boasts an enrolment of 365, proudly continues to provide quality education, sporting and social experiences for it’s students and community. We believe that our motto “Enjoying The Road To Success” encapsulates the history, culture, achievements and hopes for the future of all students, teachers and community members who have made Yarra Road Primary School the school it is today and will continue to be in the future.