School History

Hamilton Public School has been a part of the official schooling system since 1858, although a school was operating on the site for some time before that. It was known as 'the school at Pit Town' school until 1872, when the area was renamed 'Hamilton'.

 

The land on which the school was built belonged to the 'Australian Agricultural Company' (AA Coy), which ran coal-mining operations in the district. Many of the street and park names around the school came from AA Coy employees, including Steel Street (after James Steel, an AA Coy engineer who built the first rail line in Newcastle) and Samdon Street (after Sam Donn, who worked as a collier and was Mayor of Hamilton a number of times).

The school has had many incarnations. Some of these incarnations include:

• A Junior High School (1968-73)
• Hamilton Girls High & Hamiton Public School (1962-8)
• An Evening Continuation School (1920-45. Other classes were held during the day)

In 1929 the school had 2130 enrolments. Compare that to enrolments today!

Hamilton Public School has a rich tradition that continues to this day. For more information on the history of the school, and local issues in general, have a good look through the school's library.

[Source: Dr Bob James & The Hamilton School Community, A History of Hamilton Public School: 1858-1997]

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