Click here to view the film 'GPS - 150 Years Of Quality Education'.
To celebrate the history of Gosford Public School, we have produced a short film snapshotting the last 150 years of education at our school. GPS would like to thank the following people who contributed to the making of the film:
- Gosford City Library for allowing us to use their historical photos.
- Merril Jackson whose research the film is based on
- Past students and teachers who shared their photos and stories
- Current staff and students who were involved in the recording
- Merrin Boulton and Jenny Newton who wrote the script and collated the research.
This film was edited by the Classmovies team. It can be viewed on their website using the link above.
An Overview of History of Gosford Public School
In 1865, the first public school in Gosford opened, the Catholic Chapel School. It was established by the Council of Education in 1865. Miss McGrath, at 18 years of age, started as the Head Mistress, teaching 28 students in one room. Classes were held in Catholic Chapel,the building was an old timber slab hut with a shingle roof, near the corner of Donnison Street and Dane Drive.
In 1875, the construction of a permanent Public School House started to become a reality. Once the students were relocated, the slab hut church was pulled down to make way for the train line as it came to Gosford.
School on the Hill 1877
Gosford Public School was relocated in 1877 to Georgiana Terrace into the sandstone building that now remains as part of the TAFE. It was known as the "School on the Hill". By 1878, the average daily attendance was 70 pupils and the following year Gosford became a Town.
When Compulsory Education was legislated in 1901 the school grew dramatically as all children in the district had to attend school. As early as 1917, the P & C voiced to the Minister of Education the need for another new school site as other buildings were being used to house some of the classes. In 1920, Gosford Public School became a District School and timber classrooms were built to accommodate new enrolments as they increased each year.
In 1922, the school incorporated an Intermediate High.
Gosford Waterfront, 1914
In 1929, Gosford Intermediate High regained its Public School title, with the High School moving all their language students to their own site. Some of the students remained at the Rural School until the high school expanded 10 years later. The school became a District Rural School in 1931, providing domestic science, technical, commercial and agriculture courses for secondary pupils. This was of course as well as holding infants and primary classes.
In 1933, Gosford Public School school regained its Primary School title and all secondary students were transferred to Gosford High School.
In 1940, land was purchased for a new site on Mann Street. While the new school on Mann Street was in planning and under construction the "School on the Hill" kept growing. An Infants Department was formed in 1944. Enrolments grew so much that in 1947 all Primary classes were held in the School of the Arts and Infants classes remained at the School on the Hill.
In 1950, total enrolments were 300 primary pupils and 350 infants. The foundations were laid for the timber portable classrooms to the rear of The School of Arts to accommodate students temporarily, until the new school was built. The portable buildings were still used as classroom in 2013. Then in 1951 enrolments increased again to 743.
GPS 1954
In 1952, the Gosford Public School commenced at the Mann Street Site.
Gosford Public School was officially opened at Mann Street on the 5th June 1954 by Dr HS Wyndham. The school Motto of "Honour before Honours" was inscribed at the base in English rather than Latin as it enable the children to appreciate its significance. The school was very segregated, boys and girls entered the building at different ends through the double doors in A Block and there was a line painted on the ground in the playground that the girls and boys weren't allowed to cross.
Mr and Mrs Chapman
In the early 1900's Mr Alfred Ingram Chapman and his wife, Mrs Ella Hope Chapman were active members of the Gosford Primary School Board. In 1963, Mr Chapman died and the left the entirety of his large estate to nominated local charitable organisations which included Gosford Public School. Every year our school receives significant financial aid from his bequest, allocated as per his specific request 'the promotions and encouragement of education in our school'.
GPS Mann St, Gosford 2013 
Gosford Waterfront, 2013