Perth Voice Interactive

NORTH PERTH Primary School is gearing up to celebrate the school’s 125th anniversary in March next year.

NPPS is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in WA, having opened on January 30, 1899 to cater for the growing suburban population. 

It started with 131 students and the school still uses the original buildings, and it was added to the State Register of Heritage Places in 2005. 

Ahead of the anniversary celebrations, the school and its history-buff parents have recently succeeded in naming a nearby laneway after their foundation principal, Joshua Hammill.

Mr Hammill was only about 27 years old when he was appointed “head teacher” at what was then called Toorak School, and he drove the school’s expansion and went on a recruiting drive to find enough staff to cater with the rapidly expanding North Perth population. 

In the lead-up to the celebrations, current principal Andrew Streeton says they’re keen to hear from anyone who can help tell the school’s story. 

He’s hoping to hear from ex-alumni and “anyone with histories, stories, or photos”.

The 125th Anniversary Fair is on Saturday March 16, and Mr Streeton is at andrew.streeton@education.wa.edu.au if you have any memorabilia or tales to tell.

by DAVID BELL