OUR HISTORY- 1866
Soon after the establishment of Cambridge in 1864, as a military settlement there were around 200 children in the families of the early military settlers who urgently required the provision of a school.
The first school was established at the Redoubt in Fort Street in 1866. However, with the movement of troops to other areas the school was discontinued. In 1869 Cambridge was declared an educational district by the Auckland Provincial Council. In the same year, a town settler Mr William Cunningham called together a few of the townspeople and suggested that they apply to the authorities to use the disused hospital building which stood at the foot of the Duke Street hill as a school.
The present school site was used from 1874, and the old hospital building was transferred here to become the nucleus of the new school. The school grew rapidly and the roll in 1880 was 161 students.
On 2nd July 1883, the High School department was formed on the same site with a roll of 23 students. In order to qualify for the High School, students had to be over the age of 12 years of age and agree to pay a fee of eight guineas per annum. The department closed in 1887 due to low attendance but was reopened 20 years later in 1907 with 17 pupils. In 1990 the primary school roll was 160.
A further classroom, teacher's room and porch were erected in 1904 and in 1905 a separate classroom was built for the high school students. In 1909, a manual block and technical block were built. By 1910 the primary roll was 209. By 1917 the roll was up to 327; 82 children were crowded into one room in the infant department and 99 were taught in the Standard 3/4 room. Five new rooms were added in 1921 to accommodate the roll growth. In 1947, the roll had climbed to 486. In this year the first PTA was formed.
In 1952 the roll had increased to 560, with overcrowding and cold corridors being used as classrooms. At this stage the Form 1 & 2 students were transferred to the High School as an Intermediate Department. After 1961, the High School relocated to the site at Bowen Street and the Intermediate Department (now the Middle School) remained at Clare Street. During the 100 years from 1866-1966 over 12,000 children had received their primary education at this school.
It is interesting reading some of the recent past history. Mr Bernie Hennessy, Principal from 1968-1970 recalls collecting the walnuts and drying them on a wire wove bed (a practice still followed 30 years later!) and he recalls the dissatisfaction of the female staff whose toilet was located directly opposite the main entrance. Whenever it rained, the toilet roof leaked badly, so an umbrella was placed for handy use. A most difficult assignment to answer the call of nature and hold an umbrella at the same time!
Mr Keith Illingsworth (1971-1984) recalls the first major remodel. An open meeting on December 6th 1978, resolved that the exterior of the building be retained and the interior remodeled to modern educational standards. This was completed in May 1981.
Mr Denis Raines (1985-1999) had to deal with a major "Black Spot" in the school's history. Two classrooms and the Library were devastated by arson on the 31st of October 1986. The historic building refused to submit totally to the fire and all classrooms were restored to their former condition.
Under the management of Pat Poland (1999-2001), the school administration area was modernised (no umbrellas needed!).This was completed in July 2001 and in this same year a large hall was also relocated onto the site.
From October 2001 until April 2008 Mrs Donna Donnelly (Hudson-Owen) was Principal. Under Donna's management in 2004 the hall was given a fresher look on the interior with paint, a kitchen and toilet facilities being built and the floor being replaced. In 2007 the sandpit and swimming pool were removed at the front of the school and replaced with the Learning Pathways Area.
Under the current management of Mr Mike Pettit in 2009 the interior of the hall has been completely refurbished and the exterior reclad along with giving the hall frontage the same character look as the main building.
The staff look forward to providing for your children and we are delighted to be part of your child(ren)'s schooling.
Further information about the history of Cambridge Primary and the local area can be located at our local museum or the school.