Hesket Primary School (School No. 1004; previously The American Steam Sawmill School 1870-1879; Hesket State School 1879-1970)

Full description

Hesket Primary School is a small government school located in Hesket, within the Macedon Ranges Shire of Central Victoria.

The school was first established following an application sent to the Board of Education (VA 713) by residents of Newham and Rochford in June 1869, accompanied by a list of 71 children in the district. In November the same year, a grant of £50 and teacher’s salary was provided by the Board, with the community expected to match this amount. Half an acre was donated by Richard Bowen for use by the school, upon which residents built a 10m x 5m wooden building with a brick chimney and shingle roof. A detached teacher’s residence consisting of two rooms was rented by the Head Teacher. This residence was later sold and removed from the site in 1883.

The school, then known as The American Steam Sawmill School, was opened on the 30th of May 1870. The name of the school was changed to Hesket State School, No. 1004, in 1879.

By 1884, net enrolment was 87 and the average attendance was between 30-40. By 1886 the school was overcrowded, and a new wooden schoolroom with attached 4-roomed quarters was built. The old building was sold for approximately £13.

Overcrowding again became an issue in early 1890, causing children to be excluded from the school. In 1908 a new timber classroom was added.

From 1911 to 1926 enrolment rose from 43 to 53. In 1928 a School Plantation was acquired; such plantations were seen as a good way to reforest land that had previously been logged. They also provided schools with another income stream as timber would eventually be logged and sold with proceeds going to the school.

During the 1930s enrolment fluctuated between 25-30. A series of buildings and ground works were completed, including the construction of a sports oval, a cricket pitch, a basketball court and a small pavilion.

From 1960 – 1970, enrolment averaged around 20 pupils per year. In 1970, there was a statewide decision to change the use of the term “State school” to refer to all primary, secondary and technical schools instead of just primary schools, and for all primary schools to use “primary school” in the name. Accordingly, the school’s name was changed to Hesket Primary School.

During the early 1980s, the School Council sought additional land, and the Education Department (VA 714) confirmed the leasing of .4 of a hectare from local farmer, Mr. Bert Bowen. The school also joined the Mobile Area Resource Committee (MARC Van). This service provided a mobile library and library trained teacher for the school.

An all-time low enrolment of 7 placed the school under threat of closure in 1987, however within the next three years it had risen to 42, and the school was able to continue operating. Internal works were carried out on the old school building in 1990, adding a computer space and storage area to the southern wall. A third classroom was added the same year.

Until this time the school’s playground was across the road from the school building. This meant that children had to be escorted over the road to use it, creating concern for the safety of staff and students. Subsequently, just over 6,000 square metres of land was purchased by the Ministry of Education and Training (VA 1112), again from Mr Bert Bowen, and added to the school site. The old playground was sold.

During 1992 – 2009 enrolment grew to 81 before settling between 55 and 65. During this time there were numerous improvements made to the school facilities. This included the remodelling of the teacher’s residence to provide an art room, an art store and a small canteen/food preparation area; various groundwork to provide storage and sporting areas; a new block of toilets constructed in 2003, and in 2006 an extra classroom was added, and two portable rooms were replaced by a new Mod 5 double room.

From 2019 – 2025 the school’s enrolment grew from 18 students to 78.

As of 2025 this school is still in operation.