The first official school in Ringwood opened in Whitehorse Road Ringwood in 1874. It was a rough timber building, known as Cass’s School, after its Headmaster E.F. Cass.
A more substantial and larger brick school building was erected in 1889 on the north east corner of Main Street and Ringwood Street.
That school quickly became too small and a larger school was erected in Greenwood Avenue in 1922. That school, Ringwood State School, closed in the 1990s and the building now forms part of Maroondah Federation Estate.
Ringwood East State School, near the site of Cass’s School, opened in 1924. Ringwood North State School opened in 1923.
Other primary schools developed after the Second World War to cope with demand from the “baby boom”.
The first high school, Ringwood High School, was established in Bedford Road in 1954. Previously students had to travel to Box Hill High School to further their secondary education.
Norwood High School, Maroondah High School, Heathermont Hish School and Ringwood Technical School followed later.
Winnington Grammar School operated from 1916 to 1961.
Tintern Church of England Girls Grammar School transferred from Hawthorn to Ringwood East in 1950. Yarra Valley Grammar School was established in Kalinda Road Ringwood in 1965.
St Mary’s School (Our Lady of Perpetual Succour) had been established in Bedford Road / Wilana Street since 1932 with Aquinas College being developed in 1961.
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Hi There
Many thanks for your informative website. I am a Ringwoodite - born in The Pines Hospital in 1951, to Jennie Roe Dedman and Jim Dedman. We lived in Bourke St, though the house is now gone.
I went to Ringwood Technical School back in the 1960s and am wanting to research any records in preparation for the 50th anniversary Reunion of the school’s commencement, to be held in March 2010.
Please could you give me an idea of what relevantrecords you might have or may be available elsewhere.
I live at Mansfield Vic and hope to enlist a few helpers as my time is limited.
Ah yes, so many changes to the old town. I still remember the day I walked down Ringwood Street on my way home from school, and with great sadness saw the beginnings of Eastland. I have fond memories of the football games and circuses that used to visit the oval. I enjoyed the images on your pages and will keep an eye out for any additions.
My mother went to Ringwood State. Her father, David Roe, was a lay preacher at the Methodist Church and used to wind the Ringwood Clock tower, according to someone in my family who told me that story long ago when I was a child.
Would that have been possible?
Grandpa helped dig the Ringwood Baths by hand in the Depression and used to earn “The Susso” by going out in blackberry-destroying parties. Not bad for a man in his 50s, with health problems from being a coal miner in England for nigh on 40 years before emigrating.
It’s a pity that our heritage is being lost in the rush of Progress.
We have a great Historical Society up here, which I am a member of and wish I had much more time to give a hand to. Something I have on my To Do list when I retire.
All the best with your Ringwood treasures.
I look forward to hearing from you some time.
Kind Regards
Liz Dedman Seaton
July 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Liz,
I believe the clocktower was only converted to electricity decades after, so it was probably a manual job. We’ve recently come across the old State School register, so I’ll see if I can dig out your mum’s entry.
Russ.
PS Could you send me an email through “Contact” above?