Primary School 1
This plaque is located on the Victoria Street gates of the Cobden Primary School.
- Prior to 1866: The first unofficial “school” in Cobden was held at the home of George Braithwaite who was paid by the early settlers to teach their children.
- 1866: George’s son, John Braithwaite, was appointed as the first teacher of Common School No 864.
- 1870: After four years of campaigning by local residents, a timber state school was built on the same site as today’s school. It was opened on June 14, with George Braithwaite as head teacher.
- 1872: Eighty people attended the school.
1879: An infants’ room was erected at a cost of £236. - Many children suffered from ringworm.
- 1882: Head teacher Mr C Baker said it was impossible for him and his wife to live on £50 a year.
- 1888: After five years of campaigning for more space, a new bluestone building was completed at a cost of £809. Average enrolment was 129.
- 1890: Thirty children left after the head teacher is accused of ‘unmercifully beating a boy with a riding whip’.
- 1902: Roaming cows destroyed the students’ gardens and, then, a protective fence was stolen.
- 1919: Nearly 100 students were absent from school due to a whooping cough epidemic.
- 1924: Extensive renovations – new cloakroom, new brick classroom, removal of verandah, renovations, repairs – and electricity!
- 1937: School suffered a polio outbreak.
- 1942: With World War 2 happening, 100 parents dug trenches in the pool reserve for 220 children – 326 feet long and four feet six inches deep.
- 1949: A proposal to consolidate primary schools in the area did not gain favour with one school liking the idea, four rejecting it and two not responding.
- 1960: Cuisenaire rods were introduced.
- 1965: An open day celebrated the opening of extensions and alterations. The oldest former pupil Mrs J Roberts and the youngest current pupil Michael McQuinn performed the ceremonial honours.
- 1970: School’s centenary was celebrated with a huge “Back-to”. Oldest student returning was 86 year-old Mrs Amy Clarke (nee Spall).
- 1974: Steve Woodcock was appointed principal.
- 1978: Opening of a library-art-craft complex was performed by one of the project instigators, Cr J Blake.
- 1988: Principal Gary Kimber arrived. The school community fought to keep a portable classroom.
- 1996: After being vice-principal for six years, David Snell became principal.
- 2004: The RSL hall, over the road in Silvester St, was purchased for school use.
- 2006: Anthony Dowling was appointed principal.
- 2009: Peter Lee was appointed principal after serving as assistant principal for the previous 12 months.
- 2010: The new learning centre was built ($2.6 million) and a refurbishment of the existing buildings took place ($500,000). Spence Constructions (Colac) were the contractors. The tiled roof on the bluestone building was also replaced ($150,000) by Southwest Roofing.
- 2015: Special assembly and open weekend celebrated 150 years with visitors from all over the state.
- 2018-2021: Cobden Primary School was commended by the Department of Education and Training for extended outstanding results in literacy and numeracy.
- 2020-2021: The school endured many weeks of remote and flexible learning due to COVID-19.
- 2023: Jarod Bacon was appointed principal.
