AGY-3744 | Waterloo Estate Public School (1858-1859) / Botany Road Public School (1859-1879) / Redfern Public School (1879-1884) / Redfern Superior Public School (1884-1912) / Redfern Primary Plus School (1913-1962) / Redfern Central School (1962-1965) / Redfern Pub

Full description

Waterloo Estate Public School in the county of Cumberland was established in November 1858. Between 1859 and 1879 the School was known as Botany Road Public School. In 1879 Botany Road was renamed Redfern Public School which continued until December 1884. Public Schools are the basic elementary school in the New South Wales education system and have operated under this title since 1867. The attendance of twenty-five children was required from 1867-1880 to establish a Public School. From 1880-1957, twenty children were required; and from 1957 when Provisional Schools were converted to Public Schools, the minimum figure was reduced to nine. Redfern operated as a Superior Public School between December 1884 and December 1912. Superior Public Schools were public schools that were officially recognised as providing both primary and post-primary education. Between January 1913 and 1962, Redfern operated as a Primary Plus School. From January 1913 until December 1928, Redfern Primary Plus contained a Junior Technical School. Junior Technical Schools combined general post-primary education with technical training for boys expected to enter a skilled trade. The vocational subjects included drawing, woodwork and metalwork. From January 1913 until 1962 Redfern Primary Plus also contained a Home Science School. Home Science Schools combined general post-primary education with home science and commercial training for girls. The home science course (known as domestic science until 1942) included subjects such as cookery, home management and household hygiene, but girls could also take a commercial course with subjects including economics, shorthand and typing. Redfern operated as a Central School between 1962 and December 1965. A Central School was a school that contains both primary and secondary sections, and provided secondary education for children from nearby primary schools as well as from its own primary section. The term 'Central School' was used from 1944, but it described schools identical in character to the previous Superior Public Schools and super-primary schools. Redfern operated as a Public School again between January 1966 and December 2002. The School was merged into Alexandria Park Community School in January 2003. Reference:
Government Schools of New South Wales 1848-2003. Sydney, Department of Education and Training, 2003