School History
Woori Yallock is 60 km east of Melbourne, and is one of the most beautiful districts in the Upper Yarra Valley.
In 1873 the settlers of the area decided a school was necessary for their children, They purchased and erected a tent, tables, benches, fire place, but it was not until 1874 that the Education Department supplied a teacher, Mr. M. O’Halloran
On the 11th of October authority was given to send a portable building with teachers quarters to Woori Yallock. On the 6th of November Mr. Jack received the key to the new school No. 1259.
After great battling, on the 12th May 1914, a recommendation was passed that $500 be authorised for the erection of a new school building.
The official opening of the new school was a very important occasion in the district. This was held on the 21st of October 1914, and the following day a concert and dance ere held in the schoolroom.
In 1917 the old school building was removed to another portion of the property, before renovation and conversion to a teacher’s residence.
In 1983 there were 230 children attending the little school in Church Road. Once again the buildings were too small and in the few years leading up to 1983, then the ten members of the school council and the principal, Brian Smith, spent a great deal of their time trying to convince the Education Department that a new school was needed.
Eventually in 1982 a agreement was made with the department for a new school with a large multipurpose room the construction was to be completed by November 30th at a cost of $1,110,794.00. but as construction work big or small, things rarely run to time and it was not until late April 1984 that the move to completed new school was organised.
At 2.00 p.m. on October 1984 Mr Max McDonald M.L.A Member for Evelyn officially opened the school.
In
1986 a competition was held to find a school motto. The winner was Craig Graham
3/4B, with TAKE PRIDE AT ALL TIMES. This Motto is used on all school related
items.
The Bicentennial arrived and two Year 6 students Adam Hards and Bryan North wrote to the principal Ray Zerbst suggesting a time capsule in celebration. School Council agreed to the idea and on the 20th of December 1988, at 3.00 p.m. a capsule was buried on school grounds’, to be reopened in the year 2024. The capsule contains: Children’s contributions, Bicentennial memento, School Newsletters/Magazine/Reports, Staff and Council lists, Declaration, Pupil of the Week and Advance Australia Fair.
1999 arrived with the news that Ray Zerbst, Principal since 1983, was to retire at the end of Term 1
In 1999 we celebrated 125 years of Woori Yallock Primary School with a Re-union at the old school now known as the “Farm School”, a dance and family fun day at the new school.
