School History
Victor Harbor High School's history dates back to 1910 when a room at the Primary School in Torrens Road, Victor Harbor was made available for 28 students wishing to extend their schooling beyond the primary years.
Between 1910 and 1929, some 352 students were educated at the ‘Victor Harbour District High School’ but it was not until 1930 when Victor Harbor was able to demonstrate that it had the capacity to maintain an enrolment of at least 40 students, that the Education Department deemed it necessary to establish a High School as a separate entity.
Following temporary accommodation in the former Wonderview Theatre on Flinders Parade from 1930 to 1934 and then the Newland Memorial Church Hall in Victoria Street from 1934 to 1937, the Heritage Building on the current site of George Main Road was completed and opened by the Director of Education, William J Adey, on 29 May, 1937.
The new school opened with an enrolment of 87 students and 4 staff, on approximately 5.5 acres. The ceremony was attended by 800 people with a highlight being the presentation of the weather vane by Sir Henry Newland (representing the House Patrons). Rev. Ryan (chairman of the High School Council) presented Mr Adey with a silver key bearing an embossed sketch of the school with which the building was officially opened.
The Georgian Revival style building was built for a cost of £4,000 and was designed to comfortably accommodate up to 120 students. The building housed three classrooms, fireplaces, a science laboratory, library and two cloakrooms. The teachers also had a ‘retiring room’ and the Head Master a private study.
Old Scholars Room
Memorabilia and old photographs of the school and students can now be found displayed in the Old Scholars Room in the Heritage Building, including the embossed silver key with which the building was opened, the Sports Day Shield dating back to 1930 and still in use today, the original Head Masters clock and a collection of yearbooks and photographs over the years.
If you have memorabilia or old photographs that you would kindly like to share with the school, please email dl.0799.oldscholars@schools.sa.edu.au or phone 8551 1900.
