Mount Barker Primary School (GA1414)

Mount Barker Primary School is a Reception - Year 7 school in Mount Barker, just over 30km from Adelaide in the Adelaide Hills.

The earliest school in Mount Barker was a private boarding school run by Miss MacGowan, which opened in 1841 after she moved from Kensington to Echunga (1). A day school, run by Mr. John Bonnar and known as Mount Barker Town School, opened in April 1847 (2). Mr. Bonnar received a salary from the government under Act No. 11 of 1847, For the encouragement of Public Education (3).

By 1859, there were two schools licensed by the Central Board of Education in Mount Barker, plus four private schools (4). A third school was licensed by the end of the year. One of the licensed schools, run by Mr. Victor Dumas, was described by Inspectors: Although thirty-six schools have been erected under the building clause of the Education Act, Mount Barker, one South Australia's oldest and most important townships, has neglected to avail itself of its provisions, and is, comparatively speaking, worse supplied with school premises than any other place. (5)

While there were several licensed schools and several teachers in Mount Barker throughout the 1860s and 1870s, the Education Department appointed a new teacher, Mr. T.W. Walters, formerly of North Adelaide, when the new school building was constructed in 1877 (6).

At the passing of the 'Education Act 1875', Mount Barker School was located in a former Temperance Hall. In 1876, the medical officer for the destitute poor in Mount Barker and Nairne attested that children's health was put at risk due to 'defective school accommodation'. Seventy-five children were taught in one room, which was so cold in winter that the teacher had to nail the windows down (7).

On 14 September 1877, a specially-built school was officially opened by Mr. E. Ward, Minister for Education. The building was designed by Mr. E. J. Woods in a similar style to other post-Education Act public schools. There were two departments - one for boys and one for girls - with separate entrances. Unlike other public schools however, the building was constructed from white stone from nearby Littlehampton, in keeping with other buildings in the area. The building was designed for 250 children but could accommodate up to 300. It had been built so that it could be extended easily to fit a further 250 if needed (8).

Mount Barker High School opened on the site (corner of Adelaide Road and Druids Avenue) in 1909 and operated there until 1914, when it moved to Wellington Road (9).

The school remained on the Adelaide Road site until 1967, when a new building on Dumas Street was officially opened by the Minister for Education, Mr. Loveday (10).

A Disability Unit, catering for the needs of students with multiple disabilities, opened in January 2012. As at 2015, the school offers French, Health and Physical Education, Music, Drama and Digital Technologies, as well as a school choir (11).

As at 2018, Mount Barker Primary School is located at 2A Dumas Street, Mount Barker. The original school site on Adelaide Road is a privately-owned business.

(1) Southern Australian, 13 July 1841, p. 2
(2) 'Mount Barker Town School', South Australian, 28 December 1847, p. 3
(3) 'Educational Returns', Adelaide Times, 21 January 1850, p. 4
(4) 'Central Board of Education', Adelaide Observer, 26 February 1859, p. 3
(5)
(6) 'Opening of the Mount Barker School', South Australian Register, 15 September 1877, p. 6
(7) 'Council of Education', Adelaide Observer, 25 January 1876, p. 6
(8) 'Opening of the Mount Barker School', South Australian Register, 15 September 1877, p. 6
(9) Mount Barker High School History (www.mtbhs.sa.edu.au/school/history ) accessed 26/02/2018
(10) Mount Barker Primary School History (www.mtbarkerps.sa.edu.au/history ) accessed 26/02/2018
(11) Mount Barker Primary School Context Statement 2016 () accessed 26/02/2018