Paddington Public School

Established in May 1856 and one of the oldest schools in Sydney, Paddington Public School is approaching its 170th birthday in 2026.

An Iron School House for Paddington School was ordered from Liverpool, England in 1853. In 1856 227 pupils were enrolled and there were 4 teachers. Mr Thomas Harris was the first headmaster, but he only stayed for three months.

Paddington was set up as a model school. ‘The establishment of a high standard of elementary instruction, and the exhibition of correct methods of teaching’ were its goals.

When the school was established there was no water supply. Instead water had to be brought by horse and cart. Sixty buckets were needed for the weekly school supply. It was the duty of selected senior boys to count the buckets as they were emptied into a large cask. When all was correct the Headmaster paid two shillings and six pence to the carrier.

Toilets were also a problem for the school and the community. There was no sewage system in the suburb, and there were not enough toilets for the number of students. In the 1870’s there was one toilet for every fifty girls, and for every 40 boys. The recommended number was one for every 20 pupils.

By 1868 the iron schoolhouse had rusted, twisted out of shape, leaked in the rain and swayed in the wind. It also had to accommodate more than 300 pupils. A new brick building was planned and it was completed in 1870. This is the ground floor of the current main school building. The school was divided into Boy’s and Girl’s Departments. After the Public Instruction Act 1880 (Government of Henry Parkes), the school population rose to 1400. That’s when the second storey was built on the main building.

 

Source: Celebrating 150 Years 1856-2006 Paddington Public School. Written and illustrated by Liz Bowring.