The Hamilton school was opened in 1860 by the local residents. The funds for a school room were raised through numerous fundraising events which were advertised in the local newspaper. The position of a schoolmaster was also advertised. The first schoolmaster was Mr.William Heithersay, and 35 students first enrolled at the school. In 1862 the school was considered to be unsafe and overcrowded so they closed down the school and moved it to a new location. The new school was built the same year and still only had one room where they were taught. All year levels were taught in the same room by the same teacher.
In 1869 the locals held a meeting to consider handing the school over to the Hamilton District Council, therefore in June 1869 the council took over the trust of the school. In 1870 the Hamilton school had its first annual examination of the school and students. There were 47 students attending at that time. The district council promoted a position for a new schoolmaster in 1873 and later appointed Mr Ayling to be that new schoolmaster.
In 1881 the education department began building a teacher's residence next to the school, they were generally cramped and of poor condition. Before then the early teachers, if not local, boarded with local residents.
The school started up swimming lessons in the local River Light and the students had the lessons during school so they were able to learn to swim. The school had their final examination on the schools education of the final year of primary school in 1919.
In 1925, the school had an enrolment of 29 students, and their teacher was Mr. Len Marks. In 1932 Harald Jeansch was the teacher of the 17 students that attended the primary school.
In 1940 after WW2 broke out, the school dug a 50 metre trench in at the back of the school building. At this time Darwin and Sydney had been attacked by the Japanese and the school dug the trench as a safety precaution. Obviously no attack happened to the school, so they had it filled in. After the war, life went back to normal, including the school holding a one act play in 1947 by 8 of the students.
The school eventually closed in 1948 because of the lack of students attending. This was due to the farms getting bigger, therefore there were less families in the Hamilton District. The remaining students left the Hamilton School went to Kapunda Primary School along with the teacher, Mr. Arnold Dunstan. This was made possible as cars had been invented. The school house was later bought by the Brodie family as a private residence in 1949. The school house has no longer been used as a residence since approximately 1990.
In 1869 the locals held a meeting to consider handing the school over to the Hamilton District Council, therefore in June 1869 the council took over the trust of the school. In 1870 the Hamilton school had its first annual examination of the school and students. There were 47 students attending at that time. The district council promoted a position for a new schoolmaster in 1873 and later appointed Mr Ayling to be that new schoolmaster.
In 1881 the education department began building a teacher's residence next to the school, they were generally cramped and of poor condition. Before then the early teachers, if not local, boarded with local residents.
The school started up swimming lessons in the local River Light and the students had the lessons during school so they were able to learn to swim. The school had their final examination on the schools education of the final year of primary school in 1919.
In 1925, the school had an enrolment of 29 students, and their teacher was Mr. Len Marks. In 1932 Harald Jeansch was the teacher of the 17 students that attended the primary school.
In 1940 after WW2 broke out, the school dug a 50 metre trench in at the back of the school building. At this time Darwin and Sydney had been attacked by the Japanese and the school dug the trench as a safety precaution. Obviously no attack happened to the school, so they had it filled in. After the war, life went back to normal, including the school holding a one act play in 1947 by 8 of the students.
The school eventually closed in 1948 because of the lack of students attending. This was due to the farms getting bigger, therefore there were less families in the Hamilton District. The remaining students left the Hamilton School went to Kapunda Primary School along with the teacher, Mr. Arnold Dunstan. This was made possible as cars had been invented. The school house was later bought by the Brodie family as a private residence in 1949. The school house has no longer been used as a residence since approximately 1990.