History

Since Kellyville was essentially a rural area in the 1950’s, the school remained a two-teacher school. The average attendance in 1955 was 129.9 students. Kellyville Public School began the “game” in a small rural village one hundred and twenty five years ago. Its history is tightly intertwined with the history of a community and its people. Schools contributed greatly to the character of local communities, particularly in mid-nineteenth century Australia. Kellyville Public School was no exception. The location of the school helped determine the shape of the Kellyville community. The school buildings and their location had an important effect on the geography of local development. The village of Kellyville grew around the school. It helped constitute the character of local culture; many public lectures and entertainments were held at the school.

Originally, a total of 39 children, ranging from four to thirteen, promised to attend the school. There were approximately 60 children who lived within a two mile (3.2 km) radius of the proposed school site situated about 8 miles (13km) from Parramatta and equidistant from the Church of England schools at Castle Hill, Rouse Hill and Seven Hills. The population of the district was about 200, most of whom were farmers and their dependents.

On 31st May 1879, a combined school and residence, built of brick on cement foundations, with a shingle roof, was completed by Coates and Sons, for eight hundred and eight pounds, five shillings and sixpence (about Aus $1620). The school could accommodate about 35 pupils and the teacher’s residence consisted of three rooms and a kitchen. Upon completion of the new building, the old rented school room reverted back to the original owner. A new bedroom was added to the front of the building in 1888, and a veranda on brick piles at the back of the residence was completed in 1893. The teacher built at his own cost a slab kitchen joining the back of this veranda in 1893. This was replaced by a brick one in 1896. A separate school house was built in 1898. The new building was of brick with iron roof, and consisted of a room divided by a class partition. A wide veranda, a portion being enclosed as a hat room, was also included. The new building could accommodate 97 pupils. This building later became the library, and then was converted into what is now the present staff room. The buildings as they existed in 1900 remained essentially unchanged until the 1960’s.

During the 1960’s, the community boomed, requiring the construction of new buildings that were opened in time for the school centenary in 1973. This expansion has continued, resulting in the massive construction work comparable to that preceding the school centenary. In 1998, the year of its 125th anniversary, Kellyville had an enrolment of approximately 520 students accommodated in modern buildings surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.

In the year 2002 current enrolment numbers are approximately 652. In spite of this rapid expansion during the last 50 years, Kellyville remains a “bush school”, proud of its rural, colonial history, its diverse cultural identity and its continuing commitment to excellence in educational endeavour.