Schools have existed in Australia for more than 200 years, beginning in NSW and expanding across the country as other settlements started. Public School systems did not begin until considerably later than this, beginning with primary level schools, then expanding into the secondary area beginning in the 1880s. Universities first arose in the middle of the 19th century, with early childhood education in the form of kindergartens and preschools lagging well behind all other sectors.

Much of the information relating to the history of education in this country is held by state and national archives, rather than by education systems though, interestingly, many individual schools are now becoming more attuned to maintaining their histories than was the case previously.

This page looks at the history of education in all states & territories, as well as historical information at a national level and other more general historical information. It is designed to cover all schools and all levels of education.

This page requires further development and refinement. If you can assist with information, sites, etc., relating to the history of education in your area, all suggestions will be considered and added where appropriate.

States & Territories

Australian Capital Territory

• ACT School Museums
  Tabulated information.
• Education in the Australian Capital Territory - History
  Short article.
• History of Schools in the Australian Capital Territory
  Details plus links to other sources. From Archives ACT where you may find further information.

New South Wales

• Archives In Brief 19 - Teachers
  ‘Provides a brief overview of the major sources held by State Records that relate to teacher employment in the Government sector between 1788 and 1979’.
• Archives In Brief 76 - Pupil Records
  ‘Most of these records provide information relating to Orphan Schools, Industrial Schools and Government schools for admission purposes’. Covers both Pre-1900 and Post-1900 Records.
• Female Orphan Institution 1801 - 1850
  ‘The Female Orphan School was set up in George Street, Sydney, by Governor King in 1801 to house destitute young girls’. Details, Archival and Published Resources.
• Government Schools of New South Wales from 1848
  ‘Provides valuable historical information on NSW government schools operating since 1848. This website includes a number of information sources’ including the following.

• Chronological List
  ‘The chronological lists show all NSW government schools by order of opening date. Final closing date or current open status is also shown. The files are in PDF format’.
• Facts and Figures
  Information listed under multiple headings from Number of Schools 1848-2007 to Teacher Education. 15 sections in all.
• Photogallery
  ‘These historical photos span the years 1848 to the late 20th century. They are arranged by subject. Photos will continue to be added. Click on the subject in the left menu to view the photos. To view all the photos in a photo album, click on the red next button located in the bottom right hand corner’.
• School Database Search
  Clearly explained procedure [simple or advanced searching] in respect of schools in NSW, past and present. About Government Schools database entries provides information, sample entries, glossary and more.

• NSW Schoolhouse Museum of Public Education
  ‘Provides a glimpse of schooling from the past. The museum is a popular excursion venue for schools. Students participate in a hands-on education program interacting with artefacts and re-enacting early school lessons. It is run by qualified teachers’.
• Schoolhouse Museums
  ‘Preserving the heritage of public education in NSW’. Lists these and historical collections.
• Short Guide 6 - Department of Education Subject files, 1875-1948
  ‘These files deal with the administration of the Education Department and matters relating to education generally. The files have been brought together into subject bundles by the Education Department and are arranged roughly alphabetically. The subjects covered are diverse, ranging from routine administrative matters to policy issues’.
• State Archives
  Education & Welfare Subject Guide. School, Aboriginal Schools, pupil records, teachers, photographs.
• Sydney Boys High School
  ‘Officially opened by Sir George Reid, Minister for Education, on October 8, 1883. Thus Sydney High pioneered the field of Public High School Education in Australia’. Brief historical notes.
• The Female and Male Orphan Schools in New South Wales, 1801-1850
  Digital Thesis in PDF format. In several sections. Beryl M Bubacz.
• The King’s School
  A brief history of ‘the oldest independent school in Australia’.

Northern Territory

• Development of Catholic Schools, A Brief History
• Education in Wadeye and the Thamarrurr Region
  History from around 1945 to the present.
• The Archives Navigator
  Use the Navigator to find NT Government and education data.

Queensland

• A Brief History
  Primary, Secondary, Technical, Tertiary, Special, Early Childhood. Download a Text only version [none of the graphics] from here.
• A Chronology of Special Education in Queensland
  Done in period listings from 1875 to the present.
• Distance Education in Queensland
  A brief history with tabulated information.
• Education History Queensland
  State Education, History topics, Tell it Digitally, School Anniversaries, History collection and links. For assistance go to the Education History Services site.
• Education History Topics
  Looks at educational history through specific topics such as Queensland School Readers, Free Milk Scheme, State Scholarship examination, Good Manners chart, corporal punishment, more.
• Education Queensland History Bibliography 1824-1981
  ‘The Education Queensland history bibliography 1824-1891 is made available for the use of scholars and other interested parties’.
• Female Teachers in Queensland State Schools : A History 1860-1983
  Available as a series of PDF downloads.
• History of Non-State Schools
  Very brief details about the early schools from 1826.
• On History’s Page
  Timeline and history of Catholic education in Queensland. Provides lists of Catholic schools and when they were established, then by scrolling to the right you get more information for each school including images. Done initially by decades.
• Teachers in Queensland 1860-1904
  State Archives, Queensland.
• School Records
  State Archives Guide.
• School Admission and Progression Age : 1875-2008
  One of the Education History Topics. These range from Anzac Day to School Readers.
• School Anniversary Celebrations
  ‘Opening and closing dates of Queensland schools and Queensland school anniversaries [2010-2014]’. Information Sheets and Countdown Checklists.

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South Australia

• The HOPE Collection
  History of Primary Education. ‘Research collection of textbooks and curriculum regardless of the place of publication, used in South Australian Primary Schools from the 19th Century to the 1990s’. Only accessible at the University of South Australia Library.
• Lutheran Schooling during WW1
  Article recording attitudes toward this.
• The Manning Index
  Holdings in The Index at the State Library of South Australia. Includes documents and other resources on a range of topics.

Tasmania

• Education Board
  Covers the Education Board during the period 1853 to the end of 1855.
• Education Department
  Archives Office. Covers Education Department - indexes, registers and correspondence, teachers, more.
• Index to Photographs
  Select Education from the Subject listing, complete other areas if required.
• Tasmanian Archives Online
  Enter History of Education as the search term, then access online databases.

Victoria

• Access to Historical Records and Public Records
  ‘Historical records once available from the Department of Education have now been moved to the Public Record Office’. Details on the first site of what is included. Use Education History on a simple search at the Public Records Office to generate 1 100+ records.History of Victorian Education FAQs provides assistance in gaining information.
• A History Of State Education in Victoria
  Victorian Education Department, First published 1922. Read online or download in PDF format. Can also use a Second Download Site here. A Third Site can be found here. Multiple formats from the last site.
• A Timeline of RMIT History
  Timeline with summaries for listed years from 1881 to 2000.
• Education Act 1872
  Information, transcrip in PDF or RTF, view scans.
• Victorian Koorie Education
  Begins with Pre 1788 and then gives information in a series of time periods to the present.

Western Australia

• A Bibliography of The History of Education in Western Australia
  National Library of Australia. Book.
• Education And School Records
  State Records Office of Western Australia. Education Department, School Records, District School Boards. Tertiary Institutions, other Education records. Clear explanations of what is in each. Links to specfiic areas. Lists the holdings in the Battye Library.
• Northcliffe School History Project
  ‘This webspace has been created at Northcliffe District High School by the Year 8 Class of 2004’.

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National Information

• A History of State Aid to Non-government Schools in Australia
  ‘A history of funding to non-government schools in Australia since colonial times and its evolution since World War II’. 2007 publication downloadable in PDF format.
• Doris Chadwick Collection
  History of School Education in Australasia. Material from the 1890s ton the 1960s. Most can only be accessed at the University of Wollongong, but some material is available in PDF format.
• History of Music Education in Australia
  Deakin University. Specialist Musical Training and Music in General Education. Two eras - The Colonial/Early Federation Period and The Modern Era.
• History of VET in Australia : Overview
  ‘The aim of this suite of products is to extend historical coverage of vocational education and training [VET] in Australia beyond the period covered by Gillian Goozee’s 1995 revised edition of Development of TAFE in Australia and to produce timelines covering aspects of the development of vocational education and training in Australia’.
  You now need to be able to log in to access this site but registration is Free.
• Schools in Australia : 1973-1998
  The 25 Years Since The Karmel Report [Conference Proceedings]. The Karmel Report created significant change in the Australian education system. Download from here.
• The Development of TAFE in Australia
  ‘From the late 19^th century until the 1990s’.
  You now need to be able to log in to access this site but registration is Free.
• The History of VET
  Traces this from the 1960s. From Training.com.au. A similar site can be found at this DEEWR VET history page A further site is found at History of VET in Australia : overview.

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Other Information

• Australian Schools Textbook Collection
  ‘Comprises textbooks used in Australian primary and secondary schools wherever published’. Also workbooks, curricula, classroom manuals, tests. Many from the 19th century. One online gallery Has School Day Memories, being covers from student workbooks of the 1930s. As a comparison, try 19th Century Schoolbooks which features American schoolbooks of the same era.
• Diversity in Australian Education
  Download this article from 2008, by Stephen Dinham.
• Education History Topics
  Links from the Australian College of Educators.
• Free to Learn - The History of Progressive Education in Australia
  You can Download the audio file of this ABC program.
• History of Australian Education and Welfare
  Information and access details for holdings at the University of Wollongong Archives. You can also access information on Education and Early Childhood Education through links provided on these pages.
• History of Education Review
  ‘The Australian and New Zealand History of Education Society is an association of scholars and others with an interest in the history of education. The society publishes History of Education Review’. Abstracts for all articles. Archived issues.
• History of Montessori in Australia
  Montessori Australia Council.
• Public And Private Schooling In Australia
  Historical and Contemporary Considerations. E-seminar from the Institute of Historical Research, UK. Historical background, structures, concerns, conclusions.
• The Evolution of Education in Australia
  Reasonably short, text article.
• The History Of Distance Education In Australia
  Quarterly Review of Distance Education, Vol. 6 #3, Elizabeth Stacey. Use a Free Trial at this link to read the article.
• The School of the Air and Remote Learning
  Information from Australia.gov.au. Covers its history.
• The State High School in History
  Comparison of UK and Australia, mostly post WW11.

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