History Of Mooroopna Primary School
1873–1874
From a Log Hut to a Living Legacy
Education in Mooroopna began in 1873 inside a small log hut with a bark roof, operating just three days a week. Led by local educator William Crimp, students paid sixpence a day and about 15 children attended. As settlement in the area grew, the community came together to establish a formal State School. On 20 July 1874, Mooroopna’s first official school opened on this very site, marking the birth of public education in the town.
1877
The Brick Building That Still Stands
The original wooden school building quickly proved unsafe and overcrowded. Parents raised strong concerns about draughty walls, leaking roofs and cramped learning conditions. In response, a solid brick building with three large classrooms and a lobby was constructed in 1877 at a cost of 372 pounds. Nearly 150 years later, this same building still forms the heart of the school and continues to serve as administration and staff spaces — a powerful physical link to the school’s earliest days.
1929
The First Major Expansion
As Mooroopna’s population slowly increased, so too did the need for more learning space. In 1929, an additional brick classroom was added, marking the school’s first significant expansion since the original 1877 building. This addition reflected both the steady growth of the town and the importance of education within the community. For decades afterward, this expanded brick structure would support generations of students as the school continued to evolve.
1948-1972
The Post-War Population Boom
After World War II, Mooroopna experienced rapid population growth. Between 1948 and 1972, the school expanded dramatically with multiple timber classrooms, a new staffroom, storerooms, a canteen built in 1968, a library in 1970, and an additional wing of four classrooms in 1972. This period transformed the school from a modest local campus into a large, thriving education centre serving hundreds of students during a time of strong community growth.
1978
The First Major Fire
In 1978, disaster struck when a deliberately lit fire destroyed three classrooms and key facilities in the southwest wing of the school. Despite the devastation, learning did not stop. Portable classrooms were quickly brought in to replace the lost spaces, allowing students and staff to continue with minimal interruption. This moment marked the beginning of a powerful story of resilience that would come to define much of the school’s modern history.
1979
A Second Fire Strikes Again
Just one year later, tragedy struck again. In 1979, a second fire destroyed the northwest wing, including the library, three classrooms and a staff room. Once again, portable classrooms filled the gap. Remarkably, the original 1877 brick building remained largely unharmed, with its solid construction helping contain the spread of the flames. At this time, school enrolments were nearing 600 students — one of the highest in the school’s history.
1980
Mooroopna Park Primary Opens
With enrolments at capacity and the town continuing to grow, the community made a landmark decision to establish a second primary school. Mooroopna Park Primary School opened in 1980 to serve the northern part of the town. For several months, both schools shared the original Mooroopna site until the new campus was ready for occupation. This moment reshaped primary education in Mooroopna and eased pressure on the original school grounds.
1984
From Church to School Hall
In 1984, the school purchased the neighbouring Anglican Church property. The church building itself was dismantled and removed, while the church hall and meeting rooms were transformed into the school hall, computer room, music room and canteen. This adaptive reuse reflected the deep connection between the school and the wider community, turning a former place of worship into a vibrant centre for learning, creativity and student life.
1997-1998
Classrooms for a New Generation
New classrooms were completed in 1997 and formally opened in early 1998 by Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett. This marked another important modernisation phase for the school, improving learning spaces and preparing students for the changing educational landscape. These buildings supported the school through the late 1990s as enrolments remained strong and educational expectations continued to evolve.
2001-2004
The Third Fire and a Large Rebuild
In March 2001, a third fire destroyed seven classrooms, causing the greatest single loss of facilities in the school’s history. What followed was an extensive rebuilding and modernisation program. By late 2003, nine new classrooms and a dedicated art room were completed, along with new student toilets. The rebuilt school officially opened in February 2004, symbolising a powerful renewal after adversity.
2010
The Open Learning Revolution
As part of the Building the Education Revolution in 2010, the school constructed a large, open-plan learning facility featuring six classrooms, a central shared learning space, meeting rooms, toilets and office facilities. This new design supported flexible learning, co-teaching, small group work and individual support. With its completion, the school was finally able to remove all portable classrooms, ending more than three decades of temporary learning spaces.
2021
Growing From the Very Beginning
In 2021, Mooroopna took a major step forward in early childhood education with the opening of the Integrated Early Learning Centre (IELC) on the Mooroopna Primary School site. Built as part of the Shepparton Education Plan, the centre provides three and four-year-old kindergarten, long day care, and maternal and child health services for local families. With places for around 100 children and shared learning spaces with the primary school, the IELC strengthens the transition from early years into schooling and supports families from the very beginning. As one of only 10 Our Place sites across Victoria, the centre creates a single entry point for early learning, primary education, community spaces, adult learning and health services.
2026
Bee Kind. Bee a Learner. Bee Your Best.
In 2026, Mooroopna Primary School continues to thrive as a modern, inclusive learning community shaped by strong relationships, student wellbeing and a love of learning. With a focus on literacy, numeracy, the arts and personal growth, the school supports students to become confident, capable and connected learners. Guided by its new values — Bee Kind, Bee a Learner, Bee Your Best — the school celebrates kindness, curiosity and effort, empowering every child to grow academically, socially and emotionally in a supportive and nurturing environment.
